I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As he will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State. The Minister for Justice has no role in the matter. The district of Macroom, which includes Baile Bhuirne station, has a total of 74 serving gardaí stationed over ten stations. The Minister has been assured that…

The Minister would like to thank the Deputy for raising this issue and to reassure the public An Garda Síochána remains committed to the Irish language. Studies in the Irish language remain part of the policing BA delivered to all trainee gardaí at the Garda College, Templemore. A new Irish language strategy has been developed by An Garda Síochána and will be launched early in 2022. The strategy aims to strengthen the Irish language services within the organisation and ensure compliance with the statutory language …

I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to update the House on this important matter. The Minister and myself are aware of how difficult it is for parents whose children have received a diagnosis of a rare disease and how challenging daily life can be for those families and children. Advances in technology and treatment for many of these rare, but serious, conditions are continually emerging, which is very welcome for the families and carers of these children. Newborn bloodspot screening, or the heel prick test as i…

I will get those criteria for the Deputy and I will ask the Minister's office to follow up on that. I reiterate that the expansion of the national newborn bloodspot screening programme is a priority for the Minister for Health and this work has been ongoing since the establishment of the National Screening Advisory Committee. The work in this important area is continual and is evidenced by the addition of a ninth condition to the programme in May 2022. As I said, work is under way on consideration of the addition o…

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for giving me the opportunity to update the House on this important matter. Recruitment and retention of health and social care workers is a top priority. As the Deputy outlined, budget 2022 provided funding for a large expansion of the health workforce, up to an additional 11,369 whole-time equivalents, reflecting the Government's ambition and desire to invest in our health services and to ensure health services are appropriately staffed. The HSE has identified a minimum recruitment targe…

I understand a stretch target is a target that makes the organisation alter the process to get the result it wants to achieve.

I will bring the Ceann Comhairle's view on it back to the Department.

That is what I understand about stretch targets. It sets a parameter that people have to work within to try to achieve the target. "Stretch target" is a first for me too. The continued growth of the health and social care workforce is a top priority for the Department. The Deputy will appreciate that given the competitive international situation and the high demand for skilled health and social care workers, we will probably continue to face ongoing difficulties despite our best efforts. Many factors have impacted …

No.

I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address the issue of dental services for medical card holders. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. Dental services for children up to 16 years of age are provided by the public dental service of the HSE through its dental clinics. These services are provided to eligible children and do not depend on medical card status. HSE dental clinics provide a screening and fissure sealant programme for children at key stages of development, …

I have listened to Senator Murphy and his colleagues across the Chamber, and I assure him that the Minister appreciates the difficulties experienced by people accessing healthcare and is providing solutions. As mentioned, additional funding has been provided to resolve current problems with access to the dental treatment services scheme. The HSE has also been taking action to resolve the problems in children's dental services. However, the Minister and the Government recognise that the current model of provision of…

I thank Senator Cassells for raising the matter of the plans to reconfigure services at Navan hospital’s emergency department. Navan is one of nine hospitals that were designated as model 2 hospitals under the smaller hospitals framework, which was approved by the Government in 2013. Navan is the last of these nine hospitals to undergo transition to a model 2 hospital. Currently, Navan is a model 3 acute general hospital with a 24-hour emergency department service to which patients may self-present or be brought by…

I thank the Senator for his contribution. There is a shared concern to ensure that patients in Meath, the north east or any other part of the country can access the services they need. That is a core element of the planning for the reconfiguration at Navan. These concerns must be addressed. More widely, access and quality are core to the Government's unprecedented investment in the health system. I will bring the Senator's concerns to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly.

I thank Senator Currie for the opportunity to address the Seanad to talk about the Dublin canal loop greenway. The programme for Government sets out an ambitious and wide-ranging set of commitments on walking and cycling and has committed that over €360 million in cross-government funding will be spent on walking and cycling per annum over the lifetime of the Government, equivalent to 20% of the 2020 transport capital budget. This investment will help support the planned delivery of almost 1,000 km of improved walk…

I again thank the Senator for her contribution to this discussion. With regard to the wider active travel measures being promoted by the Government, this year has seen another increase in the Department of Transport's overall funding for cycling and walking, in line with the Government’s prioritisation of active travel and greenways. We saw the increasing number of people opting to make journeys by walking or cycling during the Covid-19 restrictions. That shows the potential to make real strides in the modal shift …

I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education, Deputy Norma Foley, who is regrettably unavailable. I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides the Minister with the opportunity to clarify the current position on school places in the Kildare and Newbridge area for the school year 2022-23. The Senator mentioned the lack of progress on the issue. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department of Education divide…

I will convey the Senator O'Loughlin's request that the Minister ensures that engagement between the Minister, her Department, and the relevant patron and principal of the school will continue or is enhanced. This engagement is focused on ensuring that the start of the 2022-2023 school year operates as smoothly as possible for all students, their families and staff. The Department seems to be satisfied with the additional places proposed with these buildings and-or projects that have been outlined, and that the pro…

I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, who is regrettably unavailable. I thank Senator McGahon for raising this matter as it provides the Minister with the opportunity to outline the current position regarding the accommodation needs of Monksland National School in Carlingford, County Louth, and the Government's firm commitment to enabling students with additional needs to receive an education appropriate to those needs. As the Senator will be aware…

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. Monksland National School submitted an ASA application in March 2022 requesting funding for refurbishment of rooms to accommodate an SEN class sanctioned by the NCSE. Further information was requested from the school by officials in the Department of Education on this application and was received in April 2022. The school's application has been assessed and a decision issued directly to the school authorities with regard to the proposed permanent accommodation. …

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I acknowledge his interest in University Hospital Limerick and the important role it plays in delivering healthcare in the mid-west region. We are all familiar with the difficulties faced by University Hospital Limerick. It was because of these difficulties the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, visited the hospital in February. Following that visit he requested that a HSE expert team review the day-to-day functioning of the emergency department in Univer…