Now, if the services are not provided with the necessary costs to keep going, the group will have to seriously consider a reduction in services.

This is a voluntarily run charitable status organisation-----

-----and I am asking that the Government, Department of Health and HSE intervene positively here to ensure-----

-----the service continues-----

-----as it currently is.

The tenant purchase scheme was a great scheme. People got their feet under them and went down the road of purchasing their own home, and the money went back into the coffers and built more houses. Now councils have stopped that; any house built after 2015, they will not even sell it. We were so proud when people used to get rural cottages. It was the same story - when they got their legs under them, they bought them out and the money went back to the State. We have so many schemes now, like the mortgage-to-rent sch…

It is a scandal to God what has gone on. First, there was a bicycle shed at €336,000, then a hut for €1.42 million, and now pouches for €9 million while there is a shortage of SNAs and teachers in our schools. A total of €4 million to €5 million is spent on migration funding. Any amount of millions can be spent on climate action and it still will not change the weather. People going to work, including those operating commercial vehicles, taxis and coaches, are suffering with extra carbon tax and all the other taxes…

Not for bicycle sheds, I hope.

Many people in County Kerry are very disappointed by the Government's failure to reduce the VAT rate from 13.5% to 9%. Many businesses have closed already, and many more will close before Christmas, I am sorry to say, because they were hoping, and hanging on, to see would this happen, but the Government failed them. Everyone is being hurt by the increase in carbon tax. Everyone who has a set of wheels under them is being driven down through the ground further. Carers should not have to be means-tested. Whatever cap…

I thank the Government for the increases in social welfare, which mean a lot to people who are on the breadline, such as pensioners, people with disabilities and so on. However, the word from Kerry, which I represent, is that many people in the tourism sector are very disappointed that the VAT rate was not reduced to 9%. Many providers in the nooks and corners in all the different places of Kerry are very disappointed. Many of them were waiting for this reduction and hoping they could survive, but many have closed …

With the indulgence of the Ceann Comhairle, I want to register my opposition to the €1 tax on the cigarettes.

I just want to say that it has to be remembered that 52% of mental health patients and people with mental health issues smoke. I welcome this increase in the limits or caps for inheritance tax. Deputy Paul Murphy complains about farmers or others getting the benefit of this. Going back in time, if you were the son or daughter who inherited a farm, you were considered to be made for life. That is not the case anymore. The value of farms has gone up - there is no escaping that - which means that many young farmers st…

I honestly say they would not know the cow from the bull outside in the field.

About the cow and the bull?

They do not know a cow from a bull.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity. I am aware I only have a little time. Home ownership is one of the biggest issues in Kerry for young people who want to buy or build their own home. The building option is nearly impossible because of planning permission. Home ownership is unattainable because of the cost of houses. It is hard for a young fella or a young couple - a boy and a girl - to get the funds together to buy a house or compete with people coming from abroad who have vast sums of money or…

I thank the Regional Group for this important motion and for giving us the chance to debate it. The Government appears to be fudging on this. Support is not good enough without acting and providing the carers with the facility so that they do not have to go through a means test, because many carers are seeing after people out of the goodness of their heart. One thing that people who need care love is to stay in their homes for as long as possible because if they are moved into a community hospital, long-stay settin…

That is no good to the people of Kerry today.

I, too, welcome this Bill. Ireland ranks lowest among OECD countries in its ability to link and access data. This Health Information Bill represents a critical step towards modernising Ireland's healthcare system by providing a legal basis for digital health records and facilitating the sharing of patient data. The Bill aims to improve patient care and bring Ireland into line with international standards. This is only one small cog in the wheel, and it is very important, but there are so many other things. It is he…

No one interrupted the Deputy when she was talking.