I am not in any way questioning the Deputy, but on the process, they have been waiting a long time. Once they are moved over along with the staff, the HSE has assured me locally, and I have made very up-to-date inquiries, that it has the resources staff-wise to be able to move and scale up to the 50-bed unit very quickly. Looking at the cycle of it, we are in the month of September and certainly it will not happen before the end of September. I think that is reasonable to say. We are looking, I hope, at it happenin…

I am saying it will not happen in September. I think that is reasonable. While I cannot give a firm date, we would be looking at the period from October on.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. As the Deputy will be aware, Okur-Chung is an ultra-rare neurodevelopmental syndrome with an estimated 160 individuals living with this syndrome globally. Okur-Chung was first identified in 2016 and, as such there is still much we do not know about this syndrome. However, ongoing international research seeks to provide a better understanding of Okur-Chung syndrome and e…

I acknowledge the story the Deputy tells about Elizabeth. Is it her son Leo?

What age is Leo?

It is called Okur-Chung neurodevelopmental syndrome, OCNDS. Is that the norm?

I appreciate how difficult it is for Elizabeth, Leo and his family. Once again, I thank the Deputy for providing the opportunity to discuss this important matter. As previously stated, it is hoped that through the implementation of the recently launched national rare disease strategy, we can increase rare disease research opportunity in Ireland. Knowing that meaningful research is being undertaken offers hope for the future as well as possibly leading to treatment options. By building on the work already undertaken…

I thank Deputy Hayes for raising this important issue today. The clear focus of this Government is to increase the supply of new build social and affordable homes to buy or rent. There is a record level of investment being provided for the delivery of housing in 2025, with overall capital funding available of €6.8 billion. The capital provision is supplemented by a further €1.65 billion in current funding to address housing need. This funding will support the delivery of increased numbers of social housing and cost…

I join in acknowledging his recent passing. He was obviously someone very close to the Deputy. I am utterly committed to housing for all people. For me, it about providing choice. I take this very seriously and I am actively progressing and working on it. As the Deputy said, our demographic is evolving and we will have an older population. We have to bring a range of choices across the spectrum for older people and I want to work on that with all sides of the House. It is hugely important and very much a priority f…

I again thank Deputy Hayes for raising this important matter. I listened carefully to the points he raised. The Government is working diligently in conjunction with key stakeholders, particularly local authorities and approved housing bodies, to increase delivery of housing for older people. We also want to work with the private sector because everyone has a part to play in the delivery of housing, including for older people. The clear focus of this Government is to increase the supply of new builds and affordable …

I thank Deputies across the House for their contribution to the debate. I also thank Deputy Stanley for bringing forward the motion. As the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, announced, the Minister for Health and the Government are not opposing the motion, which provides a chance to update the Dáil on developments in this sector and to outline the Government's priority to fundamentally reform dental services. As the Minister of State noted, there was €4.85 million in additional HSE funding this year, building on an…

I thank Senator Goldsboro for raising this important matter in the Seanad this afternoon. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. As the Senator stated, just last month, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, had the opportunity to visit Cluain Training and Enterprise Centre in Clonmel. It is a model of best practice on how we support people with disabilities, acquired brain injuries and mental health challenges. The centre provides a wide range of services, including …

As stated, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Deputy Mary Butler. I thank Senator Goldsboro for raising this important matter. I assure the House that we understand the value of work being done in the Cluain centre. It is a good example of person-centred community-based care at its best, offering a pathway to greater independence and inclusion by ensuring that no one is left behind. As I said in my opening statement, while the majority of funding comes …

It is always a pleasure and an honour.

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important issue. The programme for Government highlights the importance of community services for older people, which assist them to remain independent and to live in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. Many older people living at home rely on the services they receive through day centres and the outreach that these centres provide, including meals on wheels. These wrap-around supports also help to reduce loneliness and social isolation.…

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important matter. I ask her to come back to the Department on it. She has stated that she has engaged with Kildare County Council. I will go back through my Department to the HSE to advise it on what she is now looking to do. I assume that Kildare County Council and the HSE are engaging with each other. To bring clarity to light, I ask her to come back to me with an update. In the interim, I will communicate what the Senator is proposing.

The visitors are in very good hands with Deputy Feighan. They are welcome. I thank Senator Cosgrove for raising this important matter and for the opportunity to speak on the issue of Lyme disease awareness. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is an infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks, and it can occasionally lead to serious illness. Each year, it is estimated that between 200 and …

I thank the Senator for her comments highlighting the importance of continued action on Lyme disease awareness. I reiterate I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health. In 2011, Ireland became one of the first EU countries to make Lyme disease a statutory notifiable disease. The notifiable entity is Lyme neuroborreliosis, a more severe form of the disease which affects the nervous system. Between four and 21 cases of Lyme neuroborreliosis are notified annually in Ireland, significantly less than th…

I thank Deputy Burke for raising this important matter. I know his keen interest in this area. I welcome the ESRI report on future capacity requirements in older people's care, which was published on 30 June and encompasses residential care for older people and home support. The analysis in the ESRI report utilises the Hippocrates model to update baseline estimates of demand in 2022 for residential care, both long term and short term, and projects demand and capacity for these services out to 2040. The ESRI report …

I thank Deputy Burke for raising this matter. He will be aware the ESRI health capacity review on future capacity for care for older people is the third in a series of capacity reviews on Ireland's health services, following reports on public acute hospitals and general practitioner services. The ESRI will publish further analysis later this year. I note the points that the Deputy raises in the other matters he highlighted. The ESRI report provides an evidence base that is crucial for future planning and ensuring w…