Yes.

Yes, he will do so for five minutes at the end of statements.

The Minister of State now has five minutes to respond to the overall debate.

Vitamin season is upon us as we approach the winter and we all try to boost our immunity against colds and flus. I ask the Government to launch a vitamin D public awareness campaign because we know vitamin D works. Six separate Irish studies over the past two years have shown a connection between vitamin D and improved immunity against Covid-19 which, as we know, is still circulating in our communities. That is on top of the benefits in boosting our immunity against colds and flus and protecting our bones. We know …

When we talk about the heart and the soul of a community, what comes to mind? For many people it is their local sports club. Sports are not just games that we play or watch, they are the lifeblood of communities drawing together from all walks of life. They teach us resilience, teamwork and discipline. Most importantly, sports provide a platform for personal, social and community growth. Here is the thing, however. For sports to truly shine, for them to play the role they are meant to, to bring families together, t…

Earlier this week, I attended a public meeting organised by the Taoiseach's constituency colleague Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie who is with us today in the Chamber. It related to the Silver Bridge, which links Waterstown Park in Palmerstown to the Strawberry Beds in Lucan. The bridge is currently being repaired and restored through a €1.5 million investment but it is not being reopened. Obviously it would cost an awful lot more than that to ensure it is safe to be reopened to pedestrians. There are also land owner…

As we stand here in this Chamber, innocent civilians are dying in Gaza and almost 200 innocent hostages taken in Israel continue to be held against their will. The people of Palestine have lived under occupation for decades upon decades. I visited Palestine and I have seen that myself in areas like Hebron, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Kulandia. I have seen how Israeli soldiers treat people there in their own land. However, nothing, and I mean nothing, excuses the attacks Hamas carried out on innocent civilian…

I welcome this year's budget. I know it will help families and households, but I have had a lot of contact from local businesses in my area that are excluded from the increased cost of business scheme. In particular, pubs and supermarkets in Lucan and Palmerstown are among those businesses that have been in touch. They are in the hospitality and retail sectors, which are really labour-intensive and which also require, by their very nature, a large footprint, which, therefore, increases their rates bills. Based on t…

Got it. Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I congratulate my colleague, Deputy Donohoe, who after delivering six budgets as Minister for Finance delivered his first as Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. This budget is not just about numbers. It is about a reflection of our priorities as a Government. Despite the current cost-of-living challenges, the feedback I have received from constituents, in particular on the one-off measures, has been really positive. Ah…

We are increasing the rent credit to €750. We know that renters are not availing of the credit in the way that we had hoped. I encourage anyone renting to draw down the €500 credit for this year and the €750 credit for next year. These measures are more than just numbers on paper. These measures will make a difference to people, families and businesses.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Earlier this week, I highlighted a discrepancy in the HSE guidance for GP care. Its website states that if three GPs decline somebody care, they can contact the HSE and it will assign them a GP, but it appears that last month it stopped doing this. That means people who cannot access healthcare can no longer get an intervention from the HSE to provide them with GP care. Was there a change in the policy? If so, at the very least, we need to update the information, but can we re-examine t…

The 2022 sexual violence survey conducted by the Central Statistics Office paints a really grim picture here in Ireland. One in five women in Ireland has been raped with more than half experiencing some form of sexual violence. Most adults who suffered from this violence knew their perpetrator, which emphasises that these are not isolated incidents but are deep rooted societal issues. It is heartbreaking that such a significant portion of our population carries the weight of these traumas alone. Forty-seven per cen…

As leaves turn yellow and Hallowe'en decorations begin to pop up, a chill fills the air. However, it is not just the cold many families grapple with. It is the cold reality of facing another morning struggling to get their children to school. The school transport scheme in our communities, including in Dublin Mid-West, has become a challenge for many families. We are still awaiting the publication of the review of the scheme. This review was initiated in February 2021. By June of that year only an interim report wa…

I begin with some alarming statistics on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I ask that, as I share these figures, the Minister of State and everyone else considers the human stories behind each number. Globally, one in three women encounter partner violence. This shocking figure equates to more than 1 billion women across the world. Furthermore, 38% of all women murdered globally are at the hands of intimate partners. Now, let us look closer to home. In Ireland in 2022, Women’s Aid recorded an unprecedente…

I thank the Deputy. I ask the Minister of State to reply now, please.

This day last week I sat in the schoolyard of Gaelscoil na Camóige. Thankfully it was not a day like today because regardless of the weather, the 30-year celebrations for this school would have to have happened outside because it has no other option. After 30 years, there is still no permanent building for Gaelscoil na Camóige. Unfortunately, it is just one of a long list of schools in my area awaiting a permanent building, an extension or a new school. These include Gaelscoil na Camóige, Scoil Chrónáin, St. Thomas…

Last week's revelation detailing the severe complications faced by 19 children at Temple Street Hospital is nothing short of a nightmare for families. Revelations like this challenge the very fabric of trust on which our healthcare system is built. I was reassured to hear Bernard Gloster, the CEO of the HSE, confirm that planned spinal surgeries are not being postponed, but we must acknowledge the grim reality. Families continue to endure unacceptably long waits for critical surgeries and the trust these families h…

As we are all aware, from the young family just starting out, to the pensioner who has given so much to this country, the escalating cost of living and surging energy prices are being felt right across the board. With back-to-school costs and winter approaching, many feel like there is no end to the financial strain. The hard-working people in my communities, especially in areas like Lucan, Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Saggart, Rathcoole, Newcastle and Citywest, are caught in an endless, relentless squeeze. Their earni…

State childcare providers throughout the country, including in my own local community, will close in response to concerns around their core funding. If childcare services are not adequately funded we will not be able to provide parents with adequate access to childcare. My area is growing, with a great deal of new building in such areas as Lucan, Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Newcastle and Citywest. In that area we do not have enough childcare places to meet demand as it is. We cannot afford to have childcare providers cl…

Right now across Ireland, there are 307 medicines in short supply, including tablets people rely on for their blood pressure, cholesterol or mental health and medicines people require to regulate their hormones, their breathing or their insulin. People with medical conditions are facing a record shortage of drugs. That is causing huge anxiety for them, their families and their pharmacists. About 60% of the population will be impacted in some way. This matter has been raised with me by people having trouble accessin…