Good luck with that one.

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for asking this question. This day last week I met with Mr. Bernard Gloster and asked him that exact question. He has since confirmed to me that as of 1 May, the therapist will return to the school in Carrigaline and that issues experienced in the past in all of our four new schools will not be experienced into the future.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As I said earlier, this day last week I met with Bernard Gloster. Myself and the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, have to put together, along with the team within the HSE, a progressing disability services, PDS, roadmap, which will examine a suite of measures along with sponsorship and apprenticeship programmes, employment of graduates as therapy assistants as they await their CORU registration, and the expansion of the therapy assistant in the system with the HSE supporting indi…

The Minister understands the Deputy's desire to ensure that the SETU can achieve its full potential and contribute to the economic and social development of the south east. He will see that there are opportunities for the TU sector to contribute to initial teacher education, as outlined. The Minister hopes that he will understand that her Department's policy consideration is that it is important to ensure our student teachers have excellent preparation that has the advantage of a critical mass in high-quality resea…

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to come before the House and discuss this. I also thank the families who work closely with her in continuously campaigning. I acknowledge the tireless work of the Dublin 12 campaign group. That group has responded practically, as the Senator said, in putting good solutions in place within the community. Last June, I, along with the then Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, the Ministers, Deputies Foley, O’Gorman and Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, …

Of course I will. I suggest that, out of this Commencement matter, the Senator and I, the Dublin 12 group and the local HSE could set up a meeting to understand what the timeline is, what good will look like, when the Senator will see it and when the Dublin 12 campaign group will go back to being parents and not therapists.

I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh and Sinn Féin's spokesperson on disability, Deputy Tully, for tabling this Topical Issue matter. Western Care Association is funded by the HSE under the section 39 of the Health Act 2004. It provides services to more than 700 children, young people and adults with learning disabilities in the catchment area of County Mayo. That is a considerable number of individuals whom Western Care Association supports. Recent matters of concern are understood to relate to regulatory compliance and re…

I again thank Deputies Tully and Conway-Walsh. The Government is committed to providing services and support for people with disabilities, which will empower them to live their lives and provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose. It is important to point out that it is almost a year and a half since the House discussed the Brandon report. At that stage, I looked across the Chamber for support for publishing that report. Deputy Pringle was a lone voice at that stage. The importance and relev…

I thank the Deputy for raising this question. This matter can be addressed on two counts. The first is through the transition planning the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, have put in place for children as they are exiting school. Second, this can be complemented with additional personal assistant, PA, support to ensure people get equal access to further education so they can access employment. The PA route is a solution.

I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for Education. The Deputy is quite right. I am in a similar position to the Deputy as my county has the same needs and pressures. I thank him for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on the current position regarding a number of school building projects that are on hold from proceeding to either tender or construction due to capital funding pressures. The Department's capital allocation has always been un…

The Minister, Deputy Foley, fully understands and appreciate the concerns raised about the roll-out of school building projects. The Minister can assure the Deputy that the Department is very conscious of the need to support the operation of the school system and intends to provide clarity for individual schools about their school building projects as quickly as possible. In that regard, the Minister and the Department are very appreciative of the ongoing engagement with colleagues in the Department of Public Expen…

I thank the Deputy. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. The Minister and I are committed to supporting our national population-based screening programmes. The programme for Government contains a commitment in respect of expanding the age range for BowelScreen to those aged 55 to 74 years. The HSE plans to commence screening of those aged 59 years this year, in addition to the current age range of 60- to 69-year-olds. A report published by National Cancer Registry I…

I thank the Acting Chair. I thank the Senator for raising this Commencement matter. It was great it was selected. I wish her and all watching a happy International Women's Day. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic with Members on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The Department of Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding with regard to public transport rather than the day-to-day operation of public transport services nationally. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has …

The Minister appreciates the importance of the issue. The procedures involved are necessary for maintaining good health and should be performed when recommended by a doctor. It is unfortunate that patients are placed in this difficult position. The Government appreciates the contributions of the pharmaceutical industry to public health in Ireland. However, the industry's engagement with the process for medicines such as these is essential to improving patient outcomes. The State and the HSE cannot compel companies …

I certainly will take it up with the Minister for Transport. I acknowledge the Senator's ongoing work on everything transport-related in County Kildare. When I ran for the European elections she made sure I travelled on a train to understand the challenges in the various commuter towns. I will certainly raise the matter with the Minister for Transport.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue for discussion. As Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, I want to acknowledge that is has been challenging for many stakeholders, particularly the children and young people who use the services I again take this opportunity to reiterate my sincere regret about the delays being experienced in the provision of services. There are major challenges in recruiting and retaining staff in the healthcare sector, especially the therapy professionals requi…

I will answer those two straight questions. On family forums, the answer is "Absolutely". In addition, I plan to go back to having my ministerial meetings with each of the CHOs. That is happening. On workforce planning, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O’Gorman, is away this week. It will be one of our key objectives in the Department to develop a workforce plan in respect of disabilities. It is also important that we focus on retention. You can see from the staff censu…

I welcome all those in the Public Gallery. I thank the Senator for tabling this Commencement matter. Before I read the script I have been provided by the Department of Finance, I note that within the Department of Health I pulled together the working group and decided to chair it myself, much to the surprise of the group, because I was told the Department of Health is not responsible for transport. Regardless of my title as Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, this is one of the biggest issues th…

I thank the Acting Chairperson. I hope my final few words will not get me in trouble. I thank the Senator for his acknowledgement. I compliment every Minister and official sent to participate on the group I reconfigured. I was not left short one Department. Every Department was represented at the table. To be fair, the Departments of Health, Finance and Transport, as well as the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and everybody else, were there. That is why it is a good a…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As I said yesterday, in the context of Cyra and all the other Cyras out there, we have secured €11.5 million to address the backlog relating to assessments of need. We are looking to put in place regional assessment hubs in order to clear the backlog at pace. This will enable children to get a timely intervention. It will also return us to the position set down in the Disability Act, which states that we should work within a six-month timeframe. Furthermore, we know the o…