There has been a substantial delay in issuing Irish residency permit, IRP, cards. Quite a number of my constituents have been let go from employment because they did not get their cards within the 12-week period. I know substantial changes have been made in the past few days, but the word is still not getting out to employers about their being able to take back employees who were let go two or three weeks ago and who now have no income. One person with whom I am familiar started the process in January and has still…

There needs to be clarification to employers.

The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport provides funding to the FAI on an annual basis. I understand it is more than €6 million. Can the Minister of State ascertain why 30 acres of land in Glanmire, Cork, which was leased to the FAI by Cork County Council in 2017, has remained idle? What progress has been made by the Department, the FAI and the county council to bring these lands into use for sports activities? Will he make a statement? I am raising this issue because these lands were purchased by Cork …

I am absolutely astonished at that reply. The county council told councillors that it was leasing 12.5 acres to Riverstown FC rather than the full site. What the FAI is telling the Minister is totally different. State agencies, the Minister of State's Department, the county council and the FAI, which gets funding from the Department, are all involved and I cannot get a clear answer. I am getting one answer from the Department, which it is getting from the FAI, and we are getting a different answer from Cork County …

What additional measures is the Minister considering to support farm incomes in light of rising input costs and challenges facing the agricultural sector, and will he make a statement on the matter? I know recent publications showed an increase in farm incomes but that was for the previous 12 months. The big challenge now is in relation to the cost of fertilisers, fuel and electricity. There is a really difficult challenge ahead for the farming community.

I thank the Minister. I fully accept that a huge amount of work has been done over the last three to four months, especially in relation to fuel costs. The issue we are now looking at over the next 12 months is the fertiliser cost increase in view of the conflict in Ukraine and also the fact that while on the one hand, we thought the conflict in the Middle East was at an end, it now appears to be resurrecting itself again and, therefore, there is concern about increased costs in relation to fuel, electricity and fe…

Another area of real concern is tillage, where there is a decrease in those involved. It is very intensive. This is again an issue with costs, especially for vegetables. For instance, about three years ago I heard of carrots being imported from Israel, yet we cannot produce them here in a cost-effective way while giving a return to the growers. One area we have let slip completely is vegetable production in this country. We are now reliant on vegetables being imported from outside of Ireland. Only a very small numb…

I congratulate Cian and Jordan on the work they have done, as well as all the people who have helped them. They have done important work highlighting this issue, and it is extremely important that we speak openly and highlight the challenges. Dementia is one of the health and social challenges facing Ireland today, with more than 69,000 people in the country currently living with the condition. That number is going to increase, as has been outlined. Behind every diagnosis is not only an individual but also a family…

Concerns have been raised in Cork regarding access for children to MRI scans in circumstances where a general anaesthetic is required. My understanding is that there were outside people coming in to do this work. That all stopped last year. The waiting list has grown substantially and, as a result, there is a concern. Eight consultants signed a letter advising of their concerns. The question now is how we are going to resolve this issue. Planning was granted for a new paediatric unit at Cork University Hospital, CU…

I will reply to the Minister in my next contribution.

My understanding is that the eight consultants signed the letter. It was sent to the head of the HSE. They expressed serious concerns to the effect about delays and about the consequences of those delays. The headline of the article I read, and in respect of which I did some further checking, was "Doctors at Cork hospital call for 'immediate action' to mitigate risk of 'preventable paediatric deaths'". A headline like that will cause serious alarm for parents of children who are waiting.

I raised this matter in order that assurances can be provided and that people can get access to care in a timely manner. A question still arises as to why, previously, there was outsourcing or there were people coming in to do this work privately. That practice has now stopped. The argument being put forward by the consultants is that no additional staff have been taken on to deal with the vacuum that has been created and that, as a result, the list is going to grow and people are going to be waiting longer. In rel…

I thank the Minister.

Will the Minister to provide an update on the Department's progress in establishing a single application process for employment permits and visa applications, the progress that has been made to date by the interdepartmental group established to review this process, and will he make a statement on the matter?

I raise this because one of the areas where I have had many people on to me is for those who are working in nursing homes. There seems to be a huge problem between work permits and residency permits. For instance, I had one case which I sent a parliamentary question on to the Minister, where the person made an application for an IRP card on 6 March and by 30 June - 16 weeks later - it still had not issued. I am concerned there is a lack of information for both employers and employees about the process. I have had c…

Where it really affects my constituency is, taking Apple computers for instance, which is the biggest employer in the constituency, there are people from 90 different nationalities working in that facility and it is important that this information gets out to employers. The problem arising is the delays in the processing now. I outlined the case of 16 weeks, which should not be happening, but people are being advised they must apply and that it will take 12 weeks. There is then the whole issue of the period in whic…

I thank the Minister of State. As the Minister of State will be aware, being from Cork, the reason I am raising this is that the number of new jobs being created in Cork is increasing every month and, therefore, the need for additional accommodation needs to be highlighted. We need to try to fast-track that housing. Cork City Council and Cork County Council are working hard with people making applications for housing and on developing and completing housing units. In the areas outside the city, in the villages wher…

On the issue of sewage treatment in villages, we still do not have a clear plan from Irish Water as regards access to services, including water services. For instance, in Whitechurch lorry loads of water have to be brought in every day because there is a well servicing the housing units there and it is not able to deal with demand during the summer months. It is likewise with Courtbrack. There has been a boil water notice in place there since September of last year and there is no indication from Irish Water as to …

Will the Taoiseach outline when funding will be provided for the construction of the new paediatric unit at Cork University Hospital, CUH, given that planning permission was granted in 2022 and also taking into account that eight senior medical consultants have signed a letter expressing concern in respect of the current situation in the paediatric unit and stating there is a risk to patients? Can clarification be given as regards the emergency work that is required to be put in place immediately to deal with their…

I very much welcome that a large number of additional people will benefit from increases in the carer's allowance means test threshold, which comes into place on 1 July. Has the Minister engaged with the Minister for Health and her Department to ensure that carer's allowance income will not be included under the medical cards means test, so that those who benefit from the expanded threshold will not be at risk of losing their medical card? I ask him to make a statement on the matter. I have heard from a number of p…