Care of the Elderly
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-18
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Eileen Lynch (FG), Agricultural Panel

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I cannot but say I am disappointed. I have been raising this matter through the council since 2022. I got the same reply in 2023 as I got in 2022 and the reply today, in February 2026, seems to be the same as well. I do not know if the Minister of State can offer any guarantee on capital funding. Are we looking at the 2027 budget or the 2028 budget? This is an issue that comes up every now and again. I do not want to leave this Chamber and issue a press release saying this is coming. I would prefer to be able to tell people in my area not only that this is coming, but that I have a rough time for delivery, this is a Government priority and we will deliver it when we have the funding. That is what I would prefer to be able to say, having raised this issue today.
The Minister of State outlined all the wraparound services available in the town of Macroom. It is a massive area. There is a population of 6,000 in the town and its surrounds. There has also been a massive increase in the population under the county development plan in the last five years. It is big area extending from east of Cork city all the way to Millstreet and Killarney. There is a massive hinterland there. We need this service. While there are fantastic wraparound services – and I commend all those the Minister of State mentioned which provide an excellent service – we need to expedite this. Community healthcare has to be a priority. I know it is but we need to push it further.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:39+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-18