No problem.

The senior alarm scheme is absolutely excellent. I do, though, have two concerns. One is that there is a need to undertake an awareness campaign. I am shocked at the number of older people who do not know about the scheme. I am glad the Minister of State said he has seen where it needs to be more accessible. Most of the older people I know have great faith in this alarm. It is like a little red button on your arm. I know so many people who have it. Again, as I said, there are also many people who are not aware of i…

Yes.

It is a great scheme.

I have been made aware of a crisis in the public dental service. Along with others, the Irish Dental Association has been calling for additional funding and resources for many years. There are massive issues with the public care system and our nation's dental health is suffering. I met the HSE chief last week and he told me he had specifically omitted dentists from the moratorium. Active recruitment is ongoing, therefore, but there are not enough dentists to fill the roles. We really have to have a focused discussi…

I thank the Minister of State. I welcome the appointment of a strategic reform lead to drive policy. However, there is a situation in which children are going to secondary school and have not been assessed. It is a huge issue. Some parents do not have the money to bring their children to a private dentist and there is only one dentist in Carlow who covers the public scheme. Carlow in the last census had a population of more than 62,000 and it is growing. We are delighted it is growing but with that are challenges. …

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Like previous speakers, I compliment the Minister on this scheme. To the Opposition Deputies, I always say it is easy to be everything to everyone when they are in opposition and promising everyone everything that they know they cannot deliver on.

The reality here is that this is a really good scheme.

I know it is working in Carlow. I have been working with many families in this regard. Do the Deputies know where I feel the benefits of this scheme are being experienced? It is within the town centre. There are homes there that we are now bringing back into use and with them, increased footfall in the town. I refer to the great number of people who have come to me in the town centre of Carlow looking to avail of this grant. I am delighted we are extending it. Well done to the Minister and credit where credit is du…

It does work.

I just wanted to ask the number of housing commencements in Carlow to date in 2023.

When we came into government and Deputy O'Brien became Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, there were huge challenges. As a Senator and now as a Deputy, I have seen the changes happening in Carlow. As the Minister said, this has been a game changer since 2014. We are now building houses. In January, we will have 20 affordable houses in Carlow through our local authority, which we never had before. I see the difference it is making. I see the difference in the mortgages, with people coming into my o…

In Carlow, we have made those strides. I also compliment Carlow County Council on the work it has been doing. We could do with more staff. That is another thing. We have all gotten together. Everybody is working together, including all the councillors and the new chief executive Coilín O'Reilly. Everybody is working together to get as many houses as we can. I know this is a little bit different but it is something we need to look at. I thank the Minister. He gave us a prevention officer two weeks ago but I am looki…

Yes.

I am aware that there are more houses in the pipeline for next year, working with Carlow County Council. One of the areas I addressed with the Minister recently when I brought him to Carlow is the modular builds we have, which are new modern homes. This is important because we need to build as many homes as possible. That is happening. We need to build homes quicker. I know the Minister is very much aware of this and very much on board with building houses as quick as we can. It is important that we continue our go…

My office was very busy on Monday. I had people ringing us and coming in because they were told the part-time X-ray unit in Carlow at St. Dympna's Hospital, which is an excellent facility, is being closed for refurbishment. That was fine. I was trying to find out about that and of course got no word from the HSE. Then I found out the primary school dental clinic beside it is closed for refurbishment. We have one dentist in the county-----

-----of Carlow.

Just to let the Taoiseach know, it is Carlow. We have one dentist in the county of Carlow. Now the dental clinic for primary schools is closed and I am told it is for refurbishment. I got no information about it. I got no timescale and this is unacceptable. There is another issue. I tell all the Ministers and Ministers of State here that we really need to get our act together. I had a 79-year-old man at the weekend who had a horrific fall and he was waiting six hours for the ambulance. He broke his hip and his shou…

He had to go to Waterford. Then last week another man fell-----

-----and he was waiting six hours for an ambulance. I understand-----