Deputy Ó Broin should go back to Twitter.

I thank Senator Lombard for raising this Commencement matter. I am delighted to hear that the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, has made contact with him. I will read the script provided in response to the matter raised. Delivering greater value for money in the expenditure of public funds is a key element of all public investment policy. Efficient public capital investment means quality investment decisions supported by robust evidence and analysis to maximise outcomes for limited public resources. The management …

I again thank the Senator for raising an important issue for the successful delivery of State investment and ensuring maximum value for the taxpayer. It is important to have dialogue and engagement on something so key for Government delivery. As I mentioned in my earlier remarks, this is not a static space and public bodies are continuously working to improve processes and frameworks to ensure value for money. The update of the code in 2019 was done in the context of many lessons learned here in Ireland, including …

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this particularly important matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. The script I will read was prepared by his Department. I also take the opportunity to acknowledge the work and the role played by neurological nurse specialists. They play an important role in triaging, assessing, and providing ongoing support to neurological patients. This in turn builds capacity within neurological services and allows for more timely access to efficient, equ…

This is not a history lesson but I reiterate that the Department of Health is committed to improving services in line with Sláintecare. Covid-19 did bring a range of serious challenges to our health service and its workforce. The unprecedented level of investment in our health service in recent years is testament to the commitment of this Government. I will go back to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and ask him what is the commitment on the bespoke recruitment campaign in order to ensure that while funding i…

I welcome the opportunity to address the House on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, about the work under way as part of the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest strategy with regard to the training and deployment of automated external defibrillators, AEDs. I thank the Senator for using his time to raise this matter so we can have a conversation about it and make the wider public aware of the great work that is going on. Community first responders are trained volunteers who are co-ordinated and dispatche…

I again thank the Senator for raising this issue and giving us the chance to speak about the continued implementation of the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest strategy. Good progress was made during 2021 on the implementation of the strategy, supported by Government funding, and it is my expectation that progress will continue in 2022. In particular, the National Ambulance Service, via the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest strategy, continues to advance development of a national AED register, which will enable the servic…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. She has acknowledged that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is away. The response I have comes from him and his Department. The national roads programme is managed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and is delivered in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the national development plan. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with TII, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for …

As I mentioned the full N11/M11 junction 4 to junction 14 improvement scheme remains on the list of projects included in the NDP. The bus priority interim scheme represents an initial phase of this wider scheme. While funding has not been provided to progressing planning and design on the main scheme within the current year, the subsequent phases will be progressed later in the plan. Approximately €660 million of Exchequer capital funds have been provided to TII for national roads in 2022. In line with the NDP and …

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue again and pursuing it which he has done so single-handedly for a number of months with me personally. I concur with his opening statement when he again asked the HSE to publish the full Brandon report. I second that. It is important to acknowledge that the Deputy has done great work. Much like the Deputy, I had hoped that I would be able to publish the Brandon report, after the HSE decided it was not in a position to do so. It is also important to put on record that it was …

I will speak a little bit quicker because I have to get two pieces in. Records were screened for all notations referring to any alleged or actual sexual conduct during this timeframe. The content of the file review raised some concerns within the HSE and, in that context, it has been agreed that this report will now remain as a draft while a further validation is completed by a team appointed by the HSE nationally in order to address any queries and concerns. This validation is ongoing and I expect an update on thi…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I also acknowledge my colleague, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, from the same area of Cork, who would echo Deputy Gould's frustration, and, indeed, he has done so. It is important to acknowledge that the HSE has had considerable challenges implementing the progressing disability services programme. This has resulted in delays for families trying to access much-needed therapies for their children. I regret that, of course, and I once again express my sincerest apo…

I have sat down and met everybody the Deputy spoke about just now. To recruit and get speech and language therapists into posts takes five years. It is the same in the case of occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Along with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, I am working with the HSE on access to care. I refer to getting people off the 24-month waiting list. A plan is being devised, which I look forward to announcing with the Minister later. The Taoiseach has always spoken about early intervention and …

I thank the Deputy for giving us the opportunity to have this very important conversation. We can use Liam Sheehy's name. He represents an awful lot of other Liams around the country, which is unfortunate. When Covid hit, providers had to be agile in their approach and they made changes to ensure they could deliver services to as many people as possible with the staff they had. Time has moved on in respect of Bandon. I met the CEO of the Cope Foundation only recently. His real challenge is in recruitment of staff. …

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the closure of some residential disability services in line with public health advice. The Deputy knows how many there are in Cork. He is representing them, as is his colleague, Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan. They are doing a phenomenal job in bringing this matter to my attention and working with Ms Majella Daly, the local HSE and various providers on trying to get this matter addressed. The Government is committed to supporting people with disabilities to …

I get them all mixed up. If we could find a person to act as the whole-time equivalent, it would mean that all the other care assistants could come in and the three or four residents could return to their home. That would be a welcome development on the part of the HSE in ensuring the reopening of all services.

I wish to thank the Deputies for raising this important issue regarding the national maternity hospital. It is important to put on the record that I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, who, I am told, is currently meeting with NPHET. The Government will not be opposing the motion. I think it is fair to say that every Member of this House shares the same goal, that is, the delivery of the best possible healthcare for women and babies. This Government has set out its stall in th…

It is 3 a.m. I am in my bed alone. The phone rings. I shake off the sleep and answer. A man's voice, violent and determined: “We know where you are. You need to back off the lines. We will get you.” My voice catches in my throat. I cannot breathe. I say nothing. “Are you hearing me? We will get you.” Then silence. Just me, on my own, and the darkness. Safety robbed, security violated. Should I wake my children? Are we safe? Will the guards take a phone call seriously? Not all men but all women will identify with th…

I thank the Deputy for raising that question. There is no organisation left starved for cash after this budget. One of my major priorities in funding this year was respite. The real issue is we have to reduce staff in buildings where we have the virus. I am happy to say all the organisations are working hard to bring it back up to 100% capacity to ensure families get the respite they need.

I thank the Deputy for asking those questions. On her first point, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, and I are currently putting together proposals that we hope to bring forward in the new year. On the primary medical certificate, I have awarded €8 million this year for respite houses and centres so they can upgrade their transport systems. I know the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, is looking at the primary medical certificate.