Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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The doubling of the cost of modular homes for Ukrainians is another example of the Government's incompetence and waste of public money. The Taoiseach will remember that when this news first broke, all of those in government feigned shock. How could this have happened, they asked. However, yesterday, at the Committee of Public Accounts, we got the answer to that as the head of the Office of Public Works stated clearly that it had warned the Government that the sites selected for these modular homes were not suitable and the servicing of these sites would add an extra €291,000 to the cost of each unit. We now know that not alone is the Government happy to waste the public's money, but it is happy to ignore warnings that it is wasting the public's money and just push ahead. The catalogue of waste sends the signal that the Government is there for the taking and, of course, when a Government is there for the taking, it is the taxpayer who is taken for a ride. Can the Taoiseach explain why the Government ignored the warnings it was given, stood back and allowed the cost of these modular homes to double?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I do not accept that characterisation at all. Of course, it is hard to cost the locations that Deputy McDonald would secure for migrant accommodation because she will not tell us where they are. She keeps telling us where she is against and what she is against when it comes to the migration debate, but she has yet to tell us where she believes any site should be located. I look forward to her telling us that very soon.

Deputy McDonald is right that the costs were higher for the Ukrainian modular homes, and that is true, but it is also important to remember the context. We were in an emergency. People were fleeing Ukraine. The country was at war and is at war, and people were fleeing with their children.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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It is two years on.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We were looking to provide them with accommodation. We were working in real-time, in an absolute emergency, to provide accommodation to tens of thousands of Ukrainians. There were no ideal sites or ideal situations at all. We also know, because the Comptroller and Auditor General quotes this, although Deputy McDonald left it out, that the overall cost of the modular project is the equivalent of five years of hiring private sector rooms in hotels, which is not something we want to do. This is an investment that we will have, rather than wasting money on private sector hotel rooms.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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I wish to raise the issue of the lack of bus services. BusConnects, which has gone through multiple public consultations, is now in its implementation phase. However, there are still pockets of areas that are not being served by the BusConnects plan, even as it is being rolled out. This is particularly the case in north County Dublin and I want to raise the area of Holywell in Swords. At present, Holywell is only served by a private bus service, Swords Express, for journeys into town. It is a huge residential area with more than 2,000 units but the BusConnects plan would not serve it with a proper, direct peak-time service. I ask the Taoiseach to join me in contacting the NTA to ask it to find a new route. This area is in south-west Swords and it should have the shortest journey time into town but, instead, every morning dozens of people are left behind at bus stops because the private service is going past them. It is a genuine case. I ask the Taoiseach and the Government to get involved before this Dáil ends.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Smith for raising this important issue regarding Holywell in Swords and the fact there is a serious constraint on access to bus capacity and the length of time that is adding to people's commute as they go about their daily lives. I will certainly contact the National Transport Authority to highlight the Deputy’s views and I will liaise with him directly on it.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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It is now more than a year and a half since the expert report was published recommending critical reforms to our abortion laws. Marie O'Shea was clear that the current legal regime is failing women in numerous ways. Her recommendations were equally clear. Among them were to remove the mandatory three-day waiting period, end the criminalisation of doctors and provide clarity in the provision of care in cases of foetal abnormality. Since the report was published in April 2023, those recommendations have been endorsed by the health committee but the Government still refuses to act. The question is why. We know the former Taoiseach, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and the Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, raised concerns about removing the mandatory three-day waiting period. I wonder if the Taoiseach shares those concerns. Is that the reason women are being denied access to healthcare? In advance of the election, it is time for the Taoiseach to clearly outline his position and that of his party on this. He had no problem doing that yesterday when it came to the help-to-buy scheme. The women of Ireland would like similar clarity when it comes to politicians standing in the way of their access to essential healthcare. Does the Taoiseach favour the legal reforms in Marie O’Shea’s report? If so, why has he not acted on them?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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First, the women of Ireland and everybody in Ireland will know exactly my positions and the positions of my party in a general election on this and other issues. It is not correct to say that no progress has been made in relation to that report as a number of operational elements have been implemented by the Department of Health. While I am open to correction on this, I am not sure it is correct to say that the health committee has endorsed the implementation of all the findings of the Marie O’Shea report. I would certainly be surprised if it was the view of every member of the health committee that they were in favour of every single one of the recommendations. I am not sure that is the case but I am open to correction on it. There are different and sincere views on this. I have different views in relation to the mandatory waiting period than some of my predecessors had. However, it is important to say that in the lifetime of this Dáil, we are unlikely to see any further legislative reform, so it will be a matter for the next Dáil.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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What is your position for the general election?

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Is the Taoiseach aware that there are now more than 30 vacant posts at Mallow Hospital? Is he aware that surgeries had to be cancelled at that hospital a few weeks back? Is he aware that the staff shortages that caused this were only sorted out by moving staff from CUH to plug the gap? Does he think this is any way for a hospital to be run? I want to support both the INMO and Fórsa, which are balloting their HSE members nationally for industrial action against the pay and numbers strategy that is suppressing thousands of hospital jobs across the State. I also call on the community in Mallow and communities nationwide to give full support to health service workers if and when industrial action is taken. Their fight is our fight. We want a better health service for all.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We all want a better health service for all, and that is what we are working for on a daily basis. That is why we provided the largest ever health budget, why we have the largest number of people ever working in the public service and why we provided funding for thousands more nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals in the HSE budget for 2025. In relation to the issue of Mallow Hospital, I will ask the Minister for Health to come back to the Deputy directly on that because we are increasing the budget for recruitment. I would also ask the unions to provide the Minister for Health with a list of the posts they believe were suppressed because he has written to them seeking that clarity and he has yet to receive it.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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The issue of Government waste is creating great frustration and fury among the general public, from the children's hospital to the Gucci bike shed. The most recent revelation is that the vacant distillery building in Smithfield has cost the State €12 million and has not had people using it. When the Taoiseach was Minister for Health, his Department measured a building incorrectly and spent €10 million on space that did not exist, which is incredible. During Covid, the Government purchased 100 ventilators that did not work and twice the number of ventilators that were necessary. Those ventilators are now being stored in a building.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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One topic, please.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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This is the issue of Government waste, which is a massive topic, I understand. Those ventilators are still being stored. What is going to happen to those ventilators that cost €100,000, that do not work and that are still being stored? Will the Government use them somewhere as a national monument to Government waste, to be able to celebrate what the Government has done?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Wow. To be so flippant about the efforts that were made.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Flippant?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To be so flippant. Yes, that is what I said. To be so flippant. Do you want me to say it again? To be so flippant about the efforts that were made to save lives in this country, the efforts that were made to secure every possible piece of equipment, every possible piece of PPE-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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That is not the case. You know I am not saying that. The Taoiseach is twisting the question in a horrendous fashion.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Let the Taoiseach answer.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Many worked-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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I am talking about waste. I am not talking about the treatment of Covid, and the Taoiseach knows that.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is out of order.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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The Taoiseach is out of order.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am not out of order. I am in order, thank you very much. I am trying to answer your question. You might not like the answer because you just like to stand up and pontificate.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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You are answering a different question.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Just let me answer the question, will you? Thank you. The reality of the situation is that so much effort was made by so many good people working in the Department of Health to save lives. That is what they did, and I am proud of them. They did not waste during Covid. They worked really hard during Covid, around the clock, while people like you just threw barbed comments from the sidelines.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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What is going to happen to the ventilators? The question was about the ventilators.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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The former Minister, Michael McGrath, now Commissioner-designate, was asked in the House in 2019 in relation to Mr. John Fraher in Clonmel. His tax number was used when he was not trading in this country. This deals with NAMA. We all know about Project Eagle. This is project préachán, where lands in Clonmel were disposed of under section 183 by Tipperary County Council, which did not have planning permission. A massive fraud was carried out by NAMA. Revenue’s senior investigation team is aware of this and it has been brought to the Garda. I raised it with the Tánaiste before and he told me to go to the Garda, but the Garda refused to investigate it.

A massive fraud was perpetrated and the tax number of an individual who was not residing or trading in the country was used for three or four years. What went on in NAMA was unbelievable, with knowledge of Revenue and nothing being done about it. This is a fraud relating to Clonmel Park Hotel and Mr. John Fraher, a good upstanding businessman. He has asked me to get answers. The former Minister for Finance and now Commissioner-designate, Deputy Michael McGrath, was asked those questions but he did not answer them. This needs to be investigated.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I do not doubt the seriousness of the issue the Deputy raised. I just do not have the details to hand nor am I sure about the appropriateness of commenting on the floor of the House. However, if the Deputy wants to correspond with me on the matter, I will certainly undertake to pass it on to the relevant parties.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Earlier the Taoiseach took exception to somebody quoting their gospel. Let me quote the gospel of HIQA and a report that was issued today about University Hospital Galway. It states that: "the risk of compromised quality and safety of patient care due to insufficient capacity to manage demand in the emergency department [is] one of the highest rated risks on the hospital's corporate risk register." The accident and emergency department, which is a new temporary one, is simply not functioning properly. This report follows on from a report in February 2023 that I raised in the Dáil which highlighted that the accident and emergency department was grossly overcrowded. The figure at that stage was 28 people. On this day, 29 people had been admitted but there were no beds. The three wards examined by HIQA were all full to capacity. One of those wards, St. Finbar's, was lacking five full-time staff. The figure today for the emergency department is 57. Words fail me regarding HIQA saying it is grossly overcrowded at 29 or 30 when this is where we are now. Perhaps the Taoiseach could quote from the gospel of providing public health to people in need as they require.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I try not to quote the Gospels but I take HIQA reports seriously. They are an important indication and are there for a very good reason. I have not yet seen that HIQA report but I will look at it now the Deputy has brought it to my attention. We have provided very significant additional funding to the Saolta Hospital Group for 2025. We are at the point of asking what the impact is in terms of benefits for patients when such a level of budgetary provision is being made available. I will seek an update from the Minister for Health for the Deputy about the issues she raised.

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach launched the Dublin city centre task force report in the GPO on Monday. The task force was charged with providing recommendations to improve the city centre's public realm, safety and experience. It is clear to Dubliners that there is a problem. People just do not feel safe in parts of the city centre, particularly the north inner city and particularly at night time. I welcome the so-called big move announced for more visible policing and security. Increased Garda visibility is essential. The task force calls for 1,000 extra gardaí on the streets of Dublin. We know Garda recruitment and retention are concerns so is the Taoiseach confident that we can get these gardaí out on the beat on the streets of Dublin as recommended by the task force? When does he expect the interdepartmental group to be established?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am very grateful to the task force I established for launching its report on Monday. It is a really good blueprint for Dublin. I expect the interdepartmental group to be established without delay as in within days and that it will report to the Government in the middle of December with a three-year action plan for moving those recommendations forward. The figure of 1,000 gardaí is a big figure but is one that is required. It is entirely doable when we see Templemore back at capacity and a new class graduate from it around every 12 weeks.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The pressure on school places continues apace, particularly in constituencies like my own. This pressure was anticipated by many of us in this House well in advance along with the need to put in place emergency measures to deal with the situation that might arise. I am now asking that these emergency measures be activated for 2025 in sufficient time to ensure that adequate primary and second-level school places are made within reason as opposed to a situation I mentioned previously in the House where children are sent 25 or 30 miles away, which is not really an accommodation for them at all. Could this be done by way of an emergency provision?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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That is a very sensible suggestion and I assure him it is one we are going to act on. The challenge is the issue of forward planning and better co-ordinating. I see a number of schools with multiple application processes in my constituency and I imagine it is very similar in Kildare. This leads to a child being on many lists. This is not to blame the parents, who are doing their best. Bringing in a centralised application process where there can be clarity far out as to how many children need a place will get a better return on our investment and, much more importantly, provide certainty for children and their parents.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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On 27 October 2023, The Meath Chronicle reported on an interview with the Minister for Justice in which she said Meath Garda numbers are increasing and will continue to increase. At that stage, we had 318 gardaí in Meath. We know have 304. We have the lowest number of gardaí per head of population. Does the Taoiseach accept that Garda numbers are not increasing in County Meath and that our position as the county with the lowest number of gardaí per head of population has only worsened under Fine Gael and this Government?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will check the data. I do not doubt the Deputy's data but I do not have the data in front of me. I know Garda numbers overall are back in a position where we can make real progress because Templemore is finally effectively full. A new class is coming out every 12 weeks. We have provided significant funding for up to 1,000 more gardaí over the next 12 months and I have no doubt Meath will benefit from that in terms of additional gardaí.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I am sure the Taoiseach will agree with me that we need many more treatment centres for people suffering from addiction to alcohol, drugs and gambling. Tabor Lodge in Cork is under severe financial pressure and I am worried it might have to close. It is one such centre. We need many more of them. Will the Government act to ensure it does not close?

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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There are 422 treatment centres around the country dealing with drug and alcohol addiction. Last year, over 13,000 people received treatment for drug addiction and 8,000 people received treatment for alcohol addiction. Additional funding has been allocated for this year. The case of Tabor Lodge only came to my attention in May 2024. I understand that the capital funding it requires will come in under the HSE budget but that is a decision for the HSE at local level.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I know the Taoiseach is familiar with St. Killian's Special School on the north side of Cork city. He is probably aware of its campaign, which was successful a number of weeks insofar as it can provide private in-school therapies up to Christmas thanks to a decision by the local chief executive of the HSE who provided additional funding. St. Killian's was successful in its campaign but there are about 12 or 13 other special schools in Cork and about 140 nationwide that have not been afforded the same flexibility by their local HSE. How does the Government propose to deal with this because we always say in here that it should not matter where you live or a postcode lottery should not matter? In this case, precedent has been set and I would like to see that opportunity extended to other special schools.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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What we want to do is ultimately to roll out therapists in special schools so they can work with children during the school day and children will not have to leave the school setting to attend appointments in the community. The Deputy mentioned the work around St. Killian's. That is an issue for the HSE and the Minister of State with responsibility for disability. We set up a pilot between Dublin and Cork for these school therapists and we want to see that rolled out across the country. We are starting with Dublin and Cork. The NCSE is on the ground not only in Dublin and Cork but across the country ensuring we are forward planning and engaging with schools that do need those extra supports, particularly where there is a high level of demand.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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I raised this issue earlier this year with the former Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath. He accepted that I made a fair point and undertook to have the issue re-examined. It relates to a judgment of the European Court of Justice in 2022 relating to public access to the register of beneficial ownership of companies. As Minister for Finance, he signed a statutory instrument, SI 308/23, the European Union (Anti -Money Laundering: Beneficial Ownership of Corporate Entities) (Amendment) Regulations 2023. It means that journalists and others can only access the register if they can show the company is linked to people convicted of money laundering or terrorist financing. Otherwise they cannot access the register.

This means there is a complete absence of transparency. Other European countries, such as France and Latvia, have completely ignored the judgment. There have been a variety of approaches across the EU, with Ireland taking the most restrictive approach and basically shutting down the register from scrutiny. Huge State contracts are being awarded, for example, and sometimes there is dubious beneficial ownership that cannot be established. Will the Taoiseach look at this with a view to making some changes as a matter of urgency?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will. I do not want to bluff on this. I need to get on top of it, but I will certainly look at it in light of what the Deputy said. The general approach we should take on European matters is we should never be out of kilter with what seems to be the norm. If the Deputy is saying we are taking an approach that is very different from many other States, that would be a concern for me. I will raise the matter directly with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and come back to her.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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Over the past number of months, there has been a growing number of violent fire bomb attacks and incidents in Limerick city, particularly in the Garryowen, Ballinacurra Weston and South Hill areas of the city. On Sunday night, a man was injured by a petrol bomb thrown at a house. On Sunday morning, the emergency services attended another fire bomb in the city; a woman was treated for injuries sustained in that incident. This followed the discovery of a suspected explosive device and the torching of cars previously. Only this weekend, a teenager was shot in another part of the city. In September, a house was also set alight. Tensions between criminal gangs are running high and there is a real danger of a loss of life if these types of incidents continue.

These incidents are taking place in hard-working communities, where the vast majority of people work hard and provide for their families. They are being plagued by criminal gangs, however, that seem to operate without sanction. They have little Garda presence as across Limerick many areas have been left without a community garda. Are steps being taken to support the Garda in Limerick to ensure the perpetrators of these attacks are apprehended? We do not have enough gardaí out and about in communities in Limerick. The gardaí we have do an excellent job, but they can only do so much without additional resources. Will the Taoiseach speak to the Garda Commissioner to ensure resources, such as overtime and additional gardaí, which are needed to quench this rising thuggery before people die, are allocated to gardaí in Limerick?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and ask that she speaks to the Garda in Limerick. I join with the Deputy in thanking gardaí for the work they do in Limerick, while also accepting that supporting and resourcing them is key and core. That is what we want to do. Limerick is one of the areas that has the roll-out of body cams for gardaí, which is important for their safety and for public safety. I have also said that we are trying to increase our Garda numbers. We are providing more funding for that. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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I have always raised issues in my constituency very robustly and, I hope, very fairly with the Taoiseach and Ministers. I am growing very impatient, however, regarding the issue of Waterford Airport and the need for State funding to extend its runway. There is a lot of very harsh feeling in Waterford regarding comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Lawless, last week, when he used the words, "pig in a poke", in responding to questions on this issue. It has caused a lot of offence. Why are we still waiting? We have been told that information is being sought from the board, which has been given, including business cases and more detail that was needed, yet we are still waiting. Will the Taoiseach tell me and, more importantly, the people of Waterford, when we will see a decision made on funding Waterford Airport to extend its runway to allow that airport to thrive?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am in favour of the Waterford Airport development. I know there is frustration in Waterford. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue regarding a decision. I will seek an update from the Minister for Transport. My understanding is that the business case is with him for consideration. In my view, there is a very compelling case in respect of Waterford Airport. That is a strongly held view across the political spectrum in Waterford. I will revert to the Deputy directly.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The residential zoned land tax is due to come into place on 1 February 2025. Is there any case for a further review of it? One-size-fits-all does not help in my constituency of Sligo-Leitrim or in south Donegal. Local authorities need to identify demand and growth centres. We need to have a further review of the residential zoned land tax.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will remember the issues in this regard over the summer months. The Government has decided to proceed with this tax because it is important, and the Deputy shares this view, that in a housing crisis there is not any land hoarding. To his point, it is also important that the tax needs to be implemented in a fair manner. There is a difference between land hoarding and people who are carrying out a variety of activities, including farming and agricultural work. This is something the Government will continue to closely monitor as the tax is in place. We are trying to get the balance right here. We are taking a number of steps to exclude active farmers, which is important. We will continue to keep implementation of this tax under review.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I raise the matter of the Errigal Truagh Special Needs services at Emyvale, County Monaghan. It has a project, with state-of-the-art plans, which has planning permission to develop and deliver much-needed day and weekend respite services for children aged between six and 17 to provide essential support for children who are currently under the CDNT for County Monaghan. I do not need to tell the Taoiseach that the gap is huge. The need is incredible. This group is ready to go. As I said, the project is shovel-ready. I met with them yesterday. They are very despondent. Will the Taoiseach raise this matter with Bernard O'Regan to see why there is such a slow pace on this project on the HSE side?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue following her meeting with the group at Emyvale. I know the importance of this. She is right to say that there is a lot of unmet need, when it comes to day and weekend respite for children. We are all working to come up with innovative solutions. The one the Deputy outlined sounds like a very innovative solution. I had the honour of opening one such service recently in another part of the country. To see the impact these interventions can make is very compelling. We are very eager to do more. We provided significantly increased funding for the health services to do more. I will directly raise the issue with the HSE, as the Deputy requested.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Joint Committee on Drugs Use published its interim report yesterday. There will be a general election in the next few weeks so this is essentially its final report. This has been a very good committee. It has been very important in looking at different models of drugs policy and saving lives. This is the most important thing. The committee took into account the recommendations of the citizens' assembly as well as our own. There is political consensus on this. There are a variety of views, but many people have shifted their opinion in respect of how we got it wrong in the past. People will ask what is next. We have had the citizens' assembly and this very integral report, where there is consensus on doing things differently and on what we can do differently. If the Taoiseach is in the Government the next time, what does he plan to do about implementing this report?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I sincerely acknowledge the Deputy's work and his strength of feeling on this. Even though we do not always agree on every element of it, I fully acknowledge he is motivated by a sense of wanting to save lives and help people. I thank him for the work he has done on that.

The first thing I will do is read the report, which I have not done. All of us, during the general election, need to outline clearly what we intend to do in terms of next steps. The next Dáil should try to make real progress on this. The Deputy and I may have different views on this, but sometimes the debate becomes narrowed down to the issue of decriminalisation. There is a broader debate around a health-led approach and health interventions that can be made to help people. There is a very big difference between somebody with an addiction who needs a bit of help, and somebody who is perhaps more casually using drugs on a Saturday night out in the local pub. We need to understand, from a policy point of view, how to differentiate between the two.