I apologise that the Minister for Education is not able to be here. She asked me to deputise for her and express her apologies on her behalf. Before I address the specific issue raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme. The scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023-24 school year, more than 163,600 children, including more than 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post-primary services, 20,200 pupils with …

I understand where the Deputy is coming from regarding children with special needs who have particular requirements. That needs to be taken on board. As I outlined in my reply, my understanding is that there has been full consultation with parents, schools, Bus Éireann and politicians. There inevitably will be teething problems with the scheme. I hope they will be resolved shortly but there still may be some problems that take a bit of time to sort out. I will convey the Deputy's comments to the Minister. As I deta…

I too wish to send my condolences to the family of Mary O’Rourke. I first met Mary when she was a Minister and I was the Lord Mayor of Cork in 2003. We had an entertaining engagement because, as Lord Mayor of Cork, one of the jobs you have is to visit every school in the city and grant a half-day. Her colleague, Noel Dempsey, withdrew the right to grant the half-day. I remember Mary telling me that if she was Minister, she would have been far more diplomatic in making sure that the power of the Lord Mayor of Cork w…

I set out in my reply that there are 19 addiction counsellors working across 11 prisons, providing an invaluable rehabilitative service to prisoners, and it is hoped that in the coming months this service will be further enhanced. I understand the point the Deputy has raised but believe there is now a commitment to further expand the role of the nurses. I hope that will happen over the next 12 months. The Irish Prison Service recognises the significant prevalence of addiction and drug-related harm in our prisons. T…

I am delighted to announce a further investment from budget 2025 for health and well-being, and the national drug strategy. Some €9.5 million will be used to support a range of health and well-being initiatives, including physical, sexual and reproductive health. Building on the success of Sláintecare healthy communities, we have secured €1.2 million to extend the programme to four additional locations in 2025, benefiting an additional 100,000 people. Work will commence on plans for expansion to an additional 12 ar…

I thank Senator Dolan for raising this matter. I am very familiar with Portiuncula Hospital because a member of my family worked there for 12 months a number of years ago. Unfortunately, at the time they were working there, they worked 136 hours in one week-----

-----and were on call for 76 hours the following week. The whole junior doctor system has changed since then, thankfully. That is very much welcome. I thank the Senator for raising the issue of capital expenditure for Portiuncula University Hospital in the Seanad and I welcome the opportunity to update the House on this important facility in our health service. The Government and the Minister for Health are committed to the ongoing development of regional hospitals such as Portiuncula University Hospital. This Gove…

I fully agree with the Senator. We have a growing population in every area of the country and it is important that we respond accordingly. Portiuncula University Hospital, serving the people of Galway, Roscommon and the west midlands, has a reputation for the delivery of high-quality, innovative and safe care to patients. This Government is committed to the ongoing development of Portiuncula University Hospital and the hospital is in the midst of a programme of investment designed to improve services for patients. …

I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this very important issue. Children reported missing from care are recognised as being among the most vulnerable in society. It is always concerning where a child appears to be missing or has absconded from care, even for a short period of time. Tusla has a statutory responsibility under the Child Care Act 1991 for children in care, and the agency collects information regarding the number of children who go missing or abscond from a placement. Missing children in care is an issue …

If I may just respond to the Deputy, in relation to 33 children missing, the whereabouts are unknown in relation to the 33. However, ten of them have actually been in contact. Ten out of the 33 have been in contact but their whereabouts are still not known, just to put it into perspective. There is close co-operation between the Garda and Tusla. Operation Cosnaím was set up and, as part of same, all concerns of potential child sexual exploitation regarding a child who is in the care of Tusla, are notified to a cent…

My understanding at present is that more than 13,000 people are receiving treatment for drug addiction. That has increased by more than 1,000 in the past 12 months alone, so there is a major challenge there and there will have to be a joined up approach. As the Deputy knows, the Committee on Drugs Use is dealing with the citizens' assembly report. My Department will have to wait until the committee comes back with its proposals as to how we go forward. We have huge challenges in education, healthcare and a lot of o…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter, on which I will update the House on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I extend my sympathies to the families who have experienced a waiting period for the carrying out of a post mortem. I understand the concerns raised about the delay in post mortem services in Kerry. I appreciate that the current situation may be adding to family stress during an already difficult time. The Office of the State Pathologist, OSP, is an important independ…

It is important that we distinguish between suspicious and non-suspicious deaths. The former come under the State pathologist's remit. I have outlined that there are four in Dublin and one in Cork. Where there is a suspicious death, they become involved. In other cases of non-suspicious deaths, that matter is dealt with in the hospital and within the hospital area.

I have set that out but I think it is important that we get the message across that post mortems are dealt with in two distinct ways. Post mortem examinations in non-suspicious deaths under the remit of the coroner are directed to be performed by hospital-based histopathology consultants.

I did not interrupt the Deputy.

I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for children. I thank Senator Currie for raising this important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond. Ensuring access to high-quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority for the Government. Various data sources provide evidence that the supply of early learning and childcare is increasing in terms of the number of services opening and the number of places and hours of provision that services are offering. Sector…

I did not interrupt the Deputy. What I am saying is there is co-ordination, as I understand it, between University Hospital Kerry and Cork University Hospital with regard to the provision of services. If there were delays, I will check what the reason is for those and revert to the Deputy. I will also get him the average time it takes for post mortems. The figures I have for 2021 show there were over 5,071 post mortems performed in HSE hospitals in 2021. That is a huge number. Where there is a suspicious death, the…

I thank the Senator and I fully agree with her. As we now have full employment, there is competition when it comes to retaining staff. As I stated, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has recently established a new supply management unit in his Department to undertake more detailed analysis of supply and demand. That is an extremely important development. His role is to develop a planning function for monitoring, analysing and forecasting of the supply and demand for early learning and childcare in a nuanced and specifi…

I have been asked to take this Topical Issue debate by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. She apologises that she could not be here this morning. Funding for mental health increased to more than €1.3 billion in 2024. This is the fourth consecutive year of an increase for mental health services and highlights the importance this Government places on the mental health of those living in Ireland. CAMHS is a specialist service for children or adolescents with a moderate to severe mental health difficulty. Evidence s…

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I should outline that I am here on behalf of the Minister for Education. The Department of Education does not come under my remit but I have a very detailed statement, which runs to ten pages. I do not think I will have time to deliver all of it. Before addressing the specific matter raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of E…