I thank the Deputy for raising this. The Department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with continued roll-out of projects on a priority basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, the Department published a list of 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026–27, totalling €1.6 billion in investment. These projects will deliver 27,000 addition…

I thank the Deputy for raising this serious issue. While a lot of work is being done in the Department, information is needed. That will be vital when I speak to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, tomorrow and bring back these issues. I am taking this matter on her behalf. The school building project for Coachford primary school was approved to enter the Department of Education and Youth’s pipeline under the additional school accommodation scheme. The project will provide a two-class special educational needs unit, one…

The Department is committed to ensuring that appropriate accommodation is available for all school pupils and will, in the wider context outlined, ensure that each school project on the school building programme is subject to the due diligence required under the Government’s infrastructure guidelines. Since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has provided €796.5 million in capital funding for Cork schools. Over this period, a total of 168 schools have been upgraded through provision of a new school building…

Since I have known him, the Deputy has consistently come to the Dáil and raised issues relating to rare diseases. He has worked so hard not just in respect of this particular drug but also in respect of several others. I thank him for his commitment and his hard work on this. I know he is constantly meeting the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The State acknowledges the importance of access to medicines. This Government is committed to providing timely access to new and innovative medicines and has made considera…

Two new frameworks are agreed with Medicines for Ireland. This is the Irish pharmaceutical healthcare association on the supply and pricing of medicines. These have been successfully reached following extensive negotiation with the pharmaceutical sector. These two new framework agreements will change things. A tender for conducting this review was published on Monday, 15 June. Once commenced, the project timeline is between six and nine months. Together these measures will enable faster access to medicines for pati…

I am pleased to join my colleagues today in marking Pride month. This is an important month to reflect on the role we each play in supporting equality and inclusion in Irish society. Pride is about visibility, dignity, respect and celebrating identity and belonging. As a Minister of State in the Department of Health, I am particularly conscious of the importance of inclusion services. Good public health policy must recognise difference and remove barriers to access. Members of the LGBT+ community can face more comp…

I thank the Deputy for tabling the amendment, which relates to flavours and packaging law being introduced in respect of vapes as a result of a nicotine consumption order. The Bill introduces measures relating to nicotine consumption products, including pouches or any other products containing nicotine, in order to protect our children and take action while the use of these products is low. The measures in the Bill include a ban on sale to minors, a prohibition on advertising in retail outlets and a display ban in …

Again, I understand. Pouches have been spoken about. We are all learning about pouches. Vaping was new to us a while ago. We are looking at pouches now, and that is why there will be a second Bill to deal with pouches, colours, flavours and packaging. There are directives from the EU. We moved very quickly on this. We feel that this younger people, and we need to move on pouches, colours, flavours and packaging. The Government will move as quickly as it can and will work with its European counterparts on the other …

I thank the Members for this very important motion and for giving me the opportunity to discuss dentistry services and to provide an update on the developments in the sector and the oral health action plan. The Government allocates over €240 million to the provision of public oral healthcare services every year across the Department of Health and the Department of Social Protection. This ongoing investment shows our commitment to delivering services, progressing reforms and addressing the challenges we know exist i…

I do understand the challenges that are there. I see them daily. With our new action plan, going forward, we want to make those changes. We are not opposing the motion.

I thank the two Senators for raising this serious issue today. As Senators know, I will be taking this behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare disease affecting fewer than 200 people in Ireland. The Minister spoke at Muscular Dystrophy Ireland’s national conference in December 2025 and met the families of children with DMD two weeks ago. The State acknowledges the importance of access to medicines. This Government is committed to providing timely ac…

I thank the Senators for highlighting this. As I said, the Minister for Health has been working and engaging with the HSE and the Departments on this. I assure them of the importance of this for patients with DMD in Ireland. It is important for families. It affects everyone. The HSE has sole statutory responsibility for making decisions on which medicines are reimbursed. The HSE continues to process and assess pricing reimbursements in applications received from a company as efficiently as possible within the resou…

I thank Senator Clifford-Lee for raising this important issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. This Government remains fully committed to delivering healthcare reform under the Sláintecare framework, ensuring that people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. A key part of our hospital-avoidance strategy is the continued development of injury units. Injury units provide safe, convenient care for non-life-threatening injuries such as broken…

I thank the Senator. I understand the importance of minor injury units. They are critical. This Government remains committed to ensuring patient services and safe, timely and convenient care are provided in the right place at the right time. That is so important. Last year, as I said, the injury units saw over 220,000 attendees, a 5% increase on 2024. This reflects growing public confidence in this model. Injury units continue to provide a fast and efficient pathway for non-life-threatening injuries. While, as we s…

I understand. I do. In the meantime, Balbriggan primary care unit continues to play a vital role. I compliment everybody involved in that unit. We understand that these units and injury clinics are so important. They deliver integrated services from chronic disease management to older persons specialist teams to mental health and disability supports. As we all know, people are living longer, so it is important they can access services nearer to home and their communities. The Department and the HSE will continue to…

I thank Deputy Burke for raising this very important issue. The Government is committed to improving cancer care, ensuring better prevention and maintaining improvements in cancer survival rates and timely access to treatments. The availability of appropriate, fit-for-purpose facilities and equipment is critical to the safe and timely delivery of cancer care. Since the launch of the national cancer strategy in 2017, the Government has allocated €105 million to support cancer services and improve outcomes for patien…

I thank Deputy Burke. As he said, this is a serious issue. I know the Government is committed and I will certainly bring it back to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Ensuring better prevention, maintaining improvements in cancer survival rates and timely access to treatment are priorities for the Government. Access to state-of-the-art and fit-for-purpose facilities and equipment is fundamental to the safe and timely delivery of such care. Deputy Burke is right that timely delivery is so important. He spoke abo…

I thank the Deputy for raising this serious issue. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for older people and housing, Deputy O'Donnell. Long-term residential care is a crucial part of our healthcare system. Across the country, our HSE community nursing units, CNUs, and community hospitals play a vital role in the provision of long-term care and other services. The Government is committed to continued investment in healthcare infrastructure which supports the highest quality care for…

I thank the Deputy for highlighting this matter. The opening at the end of June is a priority for him. I reiterate the older persons' service in Killarney and surrounding areas will be enhanced by the opening of the new state-of-the-art, 130-bed community nursing units. The new CNU in Killarney is part of the overall CNU programme, which will deliver seven public private partnership, PPP, projects and provide a complement of 130 beds, of which 50 will be long-stay beds, 30 will be dementia-specific beds and 50 will…

I thank the Senator for highlighting this important issue. I saw the figure for Wexford of 4,400. That is a lot of people waiting. In my area of Carlow-Kilkenny there are 295 so I can see where the Senator is coming from. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Minister for Health is aware of athletic therapy as a profession and Department of Health officials have engaged with Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland, ARTI. Athletic therapists complete …