The Deputy's comments are very appropriate. She spoke about decency and people being informed. In recent years, and with the citizens' assembly, people have been informed. We are looking at international best practice. Many years ago, that brought in just the UK but I am sure that the HSE and all the stakeholders will be looking further afield, including the USA. We are very much committed Europeans and I am sure there is much best practice in Europe and across the world too.

Approval and funding was provided in 2021 for the new national older persons services offices, encompassing the national home support office to be located in Tullamore, County Offaly. The development of a national office for home support will streamline existing structures, providing enhanced management and administration of home support services. The HSE has advised that work is ongoing to open the office. Refurbishment works are needed and HSE estates has appointed a project manager to oversee this work. The expe…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. As he said, the programme for Government commits the Government to introducing a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes that will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care. It is important to note that progress has been made in this area. At the end of January 2022, 4,836 people had been assessed and were waiting for a carer to become available. This is a reduction from December 2021, when 5,322 people were waiting for a…

In 2021, the Government gave approval for a draft general scheme and heads of a Bill to establish a licensing framework for home support providers. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is very interested in this area and I will relay the concerns of Deputy Calleary to her. The pilot schemes she set up will assist in determining the way forward but I do not have details on the results of same. I will bring the Deputy's concerns to the attention of the Minister of State.

No.

I will make a statement at the conclusion of the debate.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I begin by thanking my colleagues for their considered remarks on this important topic. Both the Minister and I share their passion and commitment to providing women in Ireland with a healthcare system that is agile and responsive to the issues raised. As Deputies will be aware, women’s health was in the programme for Government as a key priority for the Government. This is a commitment we have since backed up with €31 million in additional funding for women’s health in budget 2022 and …

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. On 19 January, the Government announced a Covid-19 recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000, which is welcome, will not be subject to income tax, USC or PRSI. The announcement also made provision for a pro rata application of the payment. The measure will be ring-fenced to staff ordinarily on site in Covid-19 exposed healthcare environments in the period between 1 March 20…

Many individuals in our country did so much during the pandemic and the Government and I are sincerely grateful to them for their commitment. It is appropriate that these public sector front-line healthcare workers get particular recognition. The Deputy is right that they exposed themselves to particular Covid-19 risks that did not exist in other working environments or for those working from home. The Deputy said they were asked to go into their jobs and they answered that call. They showed commitment and in essen…

I thank Senator Sherlock for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to speak on it on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. I agree that it is great to see school children in here today after a two year absence. They give the House a great sense of vitality. I am delighted to see them here today and I hope they enjoy their tour of Leinster House. The remit of the IBTS is to provide a safe, reliable and robust blood service to the Irish health system. A major objective of the IBTS is to ensur…

I thank the Senator for raising the important issue of the policy changes introduced by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. Those changes make blood donation more inclusive and welcome additional donors from the LGBT+ community. We must ensure a safe supply of blood. This is a positive development. However, the Senator is right. I did not realise we had to import blood. I give blood. There are many times when people, because of a hectic lifestyle, are unable to donate in their own towns. I make time to go down to …

On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, I thank all the Members for their valuable contributions today. As the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, said at the outset, the Minister really would have liked to have been here today to introduce this very important, if not historic, legislation. From listening to everyone, I can hear there is broad support for this long-awaited Bill. I assure all speakers that I will inform the Minister of the numerous constructive obs…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Health pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

I thank Deputies Gould and Ward for raising this issue. I welcome the opportunity to inform the House on the current position relating to the continued closure of the Keltoi rehabilitation unit. I thank Deputy Ward for outlining his journey in terms of his work on front-line addiction services and the care plan that was provided. From the outset of the pandemic, the Government identified drug treatment and addiction services as essential services. I acknowledge the leadership and commitment of addiction services, i…

I again thank the Deputies. I acknowledge there are significant and specific challenges facing the homeless and addiction service users in CHO 9, in addition to the migrant health population living in overcrowded accommodation and quarantine accommodation there. These cohorts require individualised supports to be put in place if they are Covid positive as they cannot isolate in their existing accommodation on public health grounds.

I am satisfied that demand for the Keltoi unit to be maintained as a Covid isolation facility is significant and ongoing and I am committed to ensuring the vulnerable population in Dublin north city and county are provided for. It is essential that the HSE CHO 9 public health department continues to review the use of Keltoi as an isolation facility on a monthly basis to ensure normal services can be resumed as soon as possible. I recognise the importance and value of the Keltoi unit to the community in CHO 9 and my…

On behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, I thank the Senator for raising this important issue today. Unfortunately, I wish to advise the House that there are no plans to dispose of any land held by the Defence Forces in the Stamullen and Gormanston areas to local authorities for community use. The Minister and I fully appreciate the importance of local community groups and the outstanding work that they do across the country. Indeed, the Defence Forces have a very proud tradition of working with suc…

I will bring that back to the Minister. This matter has been discussed at the highest level in the Defence Forces. Unfortunately, I do not have good news for the Senator, but in light of the issues she has raised and the fact that no lands are available under the development plan, perhaps we could ask the Defence Forces to consider this matter again.

I was involved in buying a soccer pitch in my town of Boyle in the late 1980s and I know the use that has been made of it over the past 35 years. It was money well spent, so I understand the Senator's position. She requested a meeting with the Department. It is not my Department, but if she writes to the Minister, we can pursue that request. I restate my support for the excellent work being carried out by local community groups throughout the country. The Defence Forces make time and facilities available to local g…

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and for giving me, on behalf of the Minister for Health, the opportunity to clarify the position on the provision of wigs and hairpieces by the Health Service Executive under community-funded schemes. The HSE provides many aids and appliances through its community services and it endeavours to meet needs in an equitable way within available resources and given the many demands. The provision of wigs and hairpieces by the HSE to patients who are being, or have bee…