Once again, I thank Deputy Aird for raising this important matter of Droimnín nursing home in Stradbally. As I said earlier, all options are being explored by the HSE. Specifically, in terms of St. Vincent's in Mountmellick, I know the Deputy has a keen interest in that community nursing home run by the HSE. I would like to give him clarity on a couple of points. First, the church will continue to be accessed by residents and staff, as required, and the day care will remain operational in its current location. The …

I welcome the opportunity to engage with colleagues on the important matter of expanding access to general practice care. I wish to thank the Social Democrats for raising this issue, and Deputy Rice for leading on the motion. I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who is travelling to the EPSCO meetings today. The Government will not be opposing the motion. We are all aware of how central general practice is to the provision of healthcare in Ire…

No.

No.

I thank Senator Lynch for raising this important issue. It is a key priority for the Government to increase access to services that help older people to remain independent and live in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. Alongside home support, meals on wheels and similar services, day centres are an essential support for older people, particularly in rural communities. They provide invaluable assistance, minor treatments, advice and social interaction for older people who may, for…

I again thank Senator Lynch for raising this issue. The Government’s objective to support older people to live well with dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Providing the supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels, including dementia-specific supports, is a key factor in supporting people to age well in their own homes. Day centres like this proposal for Macroom are a crucial part of social provision in our communities. They are an invaluable resource to hel…

I thank Members for their patience; there was a vote in the Dáil just now. I thank Senator Keogan for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for foreign affairs and for Defence, Deputy McEntee. At the January Foreign Affairs Council, EU ministers discussed the current situation in Iran, particularly the EU’s response to Iran’s brutally violent repression of protesters. The Council agreed unanimously to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. This dec…

Again, I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Helen McEntee. Ireland supported the decision to designate Iran's IRGC as a terrorist organisation in response to its role in the violent attacks on street protestors. The final enactment of this designation should be completed in only a few weeks. Implementation of this measure will be done in the same way as existing sanctions. Many members of the IRGC are already subject to these …

I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton. It gives the Department of Education and Youth the opportunity to discuss St. Mary’s Boys' National School, Lucan. I can see the Deputy has a deep personal interest, apart from being a TD for the area. I will give him the answer I have been provided with. If there are particular matters he wishes me to take back, I will deal with those on the c…

I thank Deputy Gogarty for the opportunity to outline the position in relation St. Mary's Boys National School, Lucan. As I stated, I am talking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. I assure the Deputy that the Department of education has worked closely with the school authorities in relation to the school application for additional school accommodation, and it will continue to do so. The Department is cognisant of the concerns of the school in respect of its gr…

I thank Deputy Gannon for the opportunity to address the need for a new critical care wing at the Rotunda Hospital. I am taking this matter on behalf of Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Government is committed to driving improvements and continued investment in the Rotunda Hospital. Providing the highest possible standard of care at the Rotunda campus is a priority for the Minister for Health. This includes ongoing capital developments at the site to manage the current and future needs of …

Once again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As I said, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Government is clear that we need increased capacity at the Rotunda to ensure it can meet the needs of women, infants and families in the short term. My priority, and that of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is to work with the master, Professor Sean Daly, in making sure we take the correct steps to deliver appropriate neonatal care for the Rotu…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O’Brien. I will give the Deputy the response I have, but I will bring the particular point he raised back to the Minister. I suggest that the Deputy follow up himself and write to the Minister on the point in question. Renewable fuel is a vital transitionary measure in transport decarbonisation, falling under the improve dimension of the avoid-shift-improve framework adopted under the Climate Action Plan 20…

I again thank Deputy Ward for raising this matter, which, as stated, I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The transport sector has a significant role to play in Ireland's transition to a low-carbon society and economy as part of the wider European goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Reducing our historical reliance on imported fossil fuels in transport and switching to alternative fuel technologies will be essential in the context of decarbonising the sector. As outlined, the Department of…

I thank Deputy Brabazon for raising this matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. At the outset, I would like to recognise the vital contribution that healthcare assistants make to our health system. These staff play an essential role in delivering supports to people with disabilities and to older persons in our communities right across the country. It is important to note that the community and voluntary organisations providing many of the home support services in our…

I again thank Deputy Brabazon for raising this matter. As I stated, I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I want to acknowledge the great work healthcare assistants do. I also acknowledge the work of the great staff in Northside Home Care Services and the huge contribution they make. As I stated, there are different mechanisms by which organisations are funded by the State. The WRC agreement was reached with ICTU unions at the time. They are grant aided under section …

I thank Deputy Quinlivan for raising this important topic and for the opportunity to speak on an issue of profound importance: timely, compassionate and specialist care for survivors of sexual assault. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Responding to sexual violence is a responsibility which is shared across Government and Ireland’s sexual assault treatment units, SATUs, play an integral role in this. Across Ireland, there are six dedicated SATUs, located in Cork,…

It is maybe a matter that the Deputy could bring up with the Minister and we can follow up on it. The HSE is currently preparing a review of the SATU infrastructure. We can feed into that in terms of considering the matter the Deputy has put forward for Limerick.

Once again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. I join him in referencing the work done by Rape Crisis Ireland and specially trained gardaí. Will the Deputy come back to us on the 80 people waiting for counselling? As I stated earlier, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Government remains committed to providing sexual assault treatment units across Ireland to offer safe and confidential services for people who experienced rape or sexual assaul…

I thank Deputy John Paul O’Shea for raising this important matter. The Government is committed to supporting older people in Ireland and improving their access to healthcare services in the community. Budget 2026 saw an increase of approximately €215 million to maintain and enhance services for older people, resulting in a total allocation of over €3 billion for the first time. This includes a further substantial increase for home support services to bring the 2026 budget allocation to over €900 million, more than …