I thank the Minister of State. The challenge that we now have is where the Minister of State has talked about the programme being put in place for over-75s. That is going to be a growing challenge because we have more people living longer. The Minister of State is right in that life expectancy in Ireland is one of the best across Europe. That is now going to present its own challenges. The number of people over 65 is going to increase from more than 805,000 up to more than 1 million within the next five to six year…

Will the Minister outline whether the Department has mapped out a pathway for the role technology can play in keeping patients healthy and in the planned statutory homecare scheme and the status of the roll-out of the planned actions?

I very much appreciate that work is being done in this area but I am just wondering about the timeframe for roll-out. In a discussion on an earlier question, I mentioned the growth of the older population and the need to fast-track new ways of managing both homecare and long-term care in nursing homes. I am not sure whether there has been any co-ordination between the HSE and public and private nursing homes regarding computerisation. Computerisation means that if somebody ends up in hospital, a clear file setting …

With regard to this subject, we need to fast-track. The private sector can deliver computerisation far faster. We seem to have a great difficulty in the HSE. Even in maternity care, a totally different area, while four or five maternity hospitals were computerised four or five years ago, the other 14 still have not been. I do not understand why, if we have a system in place in some units, we cannot have it in all of them.

Will the Minister outline what progress has been made to increase the number of radiation therapy course places at Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork, and will he make a statement on the matter?

I thank the Minister. As we outlined at the meeting in October, there are 30 training places per annum at Trinity and 12 master's degree courses at UCC. The master's programme is a two-year programme, whereas at Trinity it is a four-year course. I understand that for somebody who is studying diagnostic radiography, there is financial support for them to complete that course and, as a result, they sign a contract committing to two years' work with the HSE. The problem is that people who are qualifying as radiation t…

In fairness, since October, the Minister has done a great deal of work on this, as have his departmental officials and the Department of Health. I do not want in any way to undermine the work that has been done, but I believe this is a priority. The information I have is that two linear accelerators in Dublin hospitals are not being used, while the same is true of one linear accelerator and one CT scanner at CUH. At University Hospital Galway, there is one linear accelerator, while a new CT scanner that is to be pu…

Are we doing enough work in respect of the roles that are becoming redundant in real terms? Long ago, when a person went to college and got a degree, it would last them a lifetime. Now, however, in the context of business and what is happening in the world, things are changing very fast. Are we doing enough to examine the roles that are becoming redundant? Do we have adequate training in place for people to move them on to other areas where there is a shortage?

This matter has been raised with me by families with elderly parents or relatives trying to get home care and by commercial providers of home care. They find that the number of hours being allocated and the way those are allocated means there is quite a long delay. Where someone has been looking for home care and the HSE has exhausted its efforts to find someone who has worked with the HSE to provide that, private contractors are contacted, but those contractors are finding that the person has been waiting quite a …

I thank the Minister of State. I think the answer confirms what I was saying. For instance, the Minister of State talked about 25% being provided by the private sector. My understanding is that in other areas, it is far higher than 25%. The concern I have is the fact that it is confirmed that only 25% is provided by the private sector. I said to the Minister of State that three years ago, more than 1,800 people were working in the HSE providing home care. More than 400 people left for various reasons because it was…

I would like to know what action the Department is taking to tackle the rising levels of cybercrime and online fraud in Ireland, what strategies or initiatives are being considered and developed by her Department to enhance digital security and the protection of citizens' personal information, and if she will make a statement on the matter.

I am looking at this issue from the perspective of there being expertise within An Garda Síochána. Do we have a sufficient number of people with this expertise in the Garda? Is there a proposal to expand the number of people working in this area? I think it was €237 million the Minister referred to as being stolen in this fashion between 2020 and 2023. I refer to investment, therefore, in this area by all State agencies, but especially by the Garda. This is an area which changes rapidly, literally every day, in res…

This matter is developing very fast. Is there a need for the Garda and other State authorities to bring in people from outside? I am not saying necessarily from outside the Irish jurisdiction but from outside the Garda force to give assistance in providing the necessary support to assist the Garda in helping to deal with this area. I refer as well to investigations in this area, because it is so complex. It is very difficult to tie down this type of activity. As the Minister knows, a lot of activity is based outsid…

I ask that a scheme be put in place in each of the HSE areas across the county similar to what is offered in the South/South West Hospital Group area for women who have undergone mastectomies. Supports under that scheme include refunding of the cost of a prosthesis every two years and two free bras each year. Those supports apply to both those without medical cards and medical cardholders. Will the Minister of State indicate when such a scheme will be put in place? I am raising this matter because it is an extremel…

I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. However, as I said, there is a watering down of what is available in the South/South West Hospital Group area and I ask that that be revisited. That is the issue of funding for two free bras per annum. My understanding is that number per annum is not even sufficient but it is now watered down to funding for one free bra per annum. I am concerned about the procedure now being talked about, where people have to fill out the application beforehand. It has to be proc…

I ask that Minister of State clarify the issue in respect of women who have gone through lymphoedema care. I ask that it is clarified because it is not clear in the HSE's publication.

I raise the issue on the shortage of radiation therapists. My understanding is that there is a 30% shortfall around the country. In fact, in Cork University Hospital, there is a 39% shortfall in radiation therapists. The basic issue is that while the Minister for higher education has met with me and with both University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin about growing the number of places, the problem now is that the private sector is offering bonuses to people who will sign up with it. There is a master's cou…

Earlier this week the new Dunkettle Interchange, which is a major project costing €215 million, opened. It is really important to have completed the project, and within budget. There are a number of important projects in Cork city, especially the north ring road, the Mallow bypass and the Cork to Limerick road. All commercial traffic travelling to the Port of Cork from the north side of the city has to pass through a residential area in Mayfield. Could a north ring road for Cork city be prioritised in view of the f…

What action is the Department taking to deal with recruitment challenges for bus drivers under the school transport scheme? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. My concern is, and I think she would agree, that the service has expanded substantially in recent years and there is a growing demand. As recently as last night I had a meeting with a number of parents. They are concerned because, of 16 children, only five are able to get school transport when all 16 should be getting it. Their concern is that if we want to cater for all of the children, there would have to be an increase in the number of places and buses available.…