I have previously raised with the Taoiseach in the House the particular challenges facing the central Border region should there be adverse impacts from Brexit in future. We are the most vulnerable part of the Border region. We are very dependent, as the Taoiseach knows, on the agrifood sector, engineering and construction and construction products. I have asked that the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, do a specific report on the opportunities and challenges for the central Border region, North and Sout…

I asked about the central Border region.

There has been a welcome increase in the number of personnel employed by the HSE in the past two years. I presume some of those people were recruited through an international recruitment campaign. I know from working with advocacy groups that are outlining the need for better services for children with a disability that they are very anxious that additional therapists be recruited. Apparently, such therapists are not available in this country or on the neighbouring island. The groups have been strong advocates for …

I thank the Minister for his response. I am glad that he indicated his particular concern regarding the lack of adequate numbers of therapists to deal with children with additional needs or a disability. I have been engaging with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, on the problems in Cavan-Monaghan, the area I represent. The House recently dealt with legislation aimed at ensuring that children with additional needs get a placement in an appropriate setting in a school. All present are aware that, in many instan…

The recruitment in the Cavan-Monaghan area particularly relates to the enhanced community care programme, the launch of which I recently attended with the Minister at Cavan General Hospital in Lisdaran. I compliment Suzann O'Callaghan, the manager of the hospital, and Rose Mooney, the manager of services for the elderly in Cavan-Monaghan. They have put a great system in place there. The general hospital and services for the elderly are working together to bring as many services as possible nearer to home for people…

As I mentioned earlier, I have tabled this parliamentary question in the context of the shortage of occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and physiotherapists. My concern is about the delays in children getting assessments and follow-up treatment. I understand that in Britain much more extensive use is made of therapy assistants, not just in general hospitals but in the provision of services for children with a disability as well. I also understand that our colleges of further education provide ne…

I very much welcome that response. The Minister of State will recall a meeting I attended, along with other colleagues, with the Minister of State and the Cavan Monaghan parents committee. One of the very strong demands they outlined that day was the need, due to the shortage of therapists, for the HSE to employ therapy assistants. The Minister of State took it upon herself at that meeting to follow up on this matter and I am very glad she is indicating to us tonight that there will be progress and that additional …

The Minister of State in her introductory answer referred to on-the-job learning, continuous training and upskilling. I very much welcome that. There are a huge number of very talented people within the general health service who could benefit from upskilling and on-the-job training, and who would then be able to provide additional services to people and enhance the overall delivery of services. There would be a win for everybody, particularly for the people who need the services, who are the most important people …

The Minister will recall that on many occasions in the House and in correspondence I have raise with him the need for the PEACEPLUS programme to be operational as soon as possible. I compliment him on his role in securing €1.1 billion for this North-South programme over the next number of years. We need to build on the good work of the PEACE and INTERREG programmes. These programmes brought much-needed investment, in both social and economic terms, to many disadvantaged communities in the Border region and Northern…

Like other speakers, I welcome this legislation. To a certain extent, it is unfortunate that we need it but I must compliment the Minister and Minister of State on bringing forward legislation to enable them to put in place the structures to ensure no child is denied a place in an appropriate setting in school. I welcome the comments of the Minister of State that it is intended this legislation will work to support children with special educational needs to gain access to specialist class placements that can meet t…

I presume the Minister's Department will be reviewing imminently the mid-year public capital expenditure profile. The Minister will recall that, last year, at my request, he engaged with the Fianna Fáil councillors in Cavan and Monaghan on the need to provide additional funding for the non-national road network. I would strongly urge again this year, in the event of an underspend in Departments or statutory agencies resulting in a reallocation of funding, that priority be attached to further much-needed investment …

Since 2016, other EU member states, including France, have been very supportive of Ireland's concerns and interests with regard to Brexit. We recall that the French Government and others at EU level were very supportive of investment in the PEACE programmes from the mid-1990s. At that time the investment was critical for economic and social progress on the northern and southern sides of the Border. Thankfully today, our Border region North and South is much less dependent on this type of financial transfer because …

Some years ago, to my understanding, there was considerable engagement at official and political level between the Government and church leaders of all denominations on the advancement of the peace process and the need to deal with the ongoing concerns of some communities. My understanding was that at the time, church leaders, who have an all-Ireland remit, were an important conduit on issues of concern to some communities, particularly communities with small numbers. In some cases those communities with relatively…

As the Taoiseach knows, in early 2021, the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme was put in place as a replacement for the European Union cross-border directive, following Britain’s exit from the EU. This scheme and its predecessor have enabled large numbers of patients to access treatment or surgery or both in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, paid for by this State. By and large, these were patients who had been on long hospital waiting lists. Similarly, people from Northern Ireland have access to treatment in…

The Taoiseach told us some time ago that NESC is undertaking work on behalf of the shared island unit in the context of the economy and regional development. I suggested that a particular work project should be undertaken on the specific challenges faced by the Border region, in particular the central Border area of Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh and Tyrone. We are very dependent on the agrifood, engineering and construction products sectors. Our key market is Britain. That alone demonstrates the vulnerability of our l…

There is a very urgent need to recruit healthcare professionals such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and social workers across Cavan and Monaghan. At present, we have totally unacceptable delays in children with special needs and children with a disability receiving assessments and follow-up treatment and support. Progress in the recruitment of such healthcare professionals is absolutely essential and must be progressed without further delay.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. I also appreciate the interest of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, in this area. Along with Oireachtas colleagues and parents from Cavan and Monaghan, I met the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, on Tuesday last. The stories those parents told to the Minister of State that day were really heartbreaking. I had met the parents previously as they have been seeking better services for their children. It is most disappointing that there is a total of 18.4 full-time e…

One thing the parents have highlighted to me in meetings and correspondence is that there has been no international recruitment for such healthcare professionals. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, might take an interest in this as well. There was success in recruiting nurses over the years from the Philippines and elsewhere. Some parents put forward a suggestion regarding international recruitment. Is there an issue with permits for people with the relevant qualifications? I do not think the National Treatment Purchas…

As the Tánaiste knows, Ulster Bank proposes to exit this State next March and KBC proposes to do the same the following August. This does not seem to be a realistic timeframe, due to the challenging logistics for those two banks’ customers transferring their accounts to other financial institutions. I hear daily of the frustration and worries of customers of Ulster Bank and KBC who are trying to open new accounts elsewhere. The Financial Services Union has quite rightly pointed out that all retail banks have signif…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. Once again, we are debating Northern Ireland issues, legacy issues and the need to implement the protocol and to deal with outstanding issues relevant to it. It is most disappointing that the institutions established by the Good Friday Agreement are not in place or working on behalf of the people at present. In recent days, we celebrated the 24th anniversary of the referendums North and South, where 94% of the electorate in this State and 71.1% of th…