I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive answer. I welcome the increase in the number of ambulance paramedics. I can speak on behalf of the crew in Carlow in terms of the excellent work that is being done across the country. All have done marvellous work. It is important that Carlow is not forgotten and that there are enough staff in the south-east region, including paramedics. The Minister of State might try to come back to me with an answer on that. It is of concern. Carlow needs a new ambulance base. …

I seek a report on the south-east regional enterprise plan launched in March.

It is great that we are intent on developing and implementing collaborative and innovation enterprise projects in the region to support sustainable jobs. This is considerably important for Carlow and Kilkenny, especially in the context of the technological university, TU, for the south east. The creation of the TU will significantly enhance progress towards both national and regional priorities for the area, especially in the areas of access to higher education, research-informed teaching and learning, supporting e…

I will.

That is very welcome. I thank the Minister of State. I assure him that we in Carlow and Kilkenny will access this funding. It is important when we speak about real ambition and investment that we have proper infrastructure in place. The Minister of State indicated that when we are creating jobs and new businesses, we have to have proper roads and that Irish Water must provide water supplies and wastewater services. That needs to be looked at too. I wish to ask the Minister of State about another matter. Under the r…

It has been three months since there was a free bed in St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny. I am receiving calls from families regarding older people being discharged because of overcrowding. The other issue that is coming up is that some doctors now are actually not seeing their patients. Some are being sent down to the accident and emergency department in Kilkenny. I had a lady in my office the other day. She has three children under the age of three and was in the hospital in Kilkenny for hours. She said the s…

The public consultation on the carbon budgets concluded last month. Last year saw a step change in Ireland's approach to climate action with the signing into law of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and the new climate action plan. There is a stark picture of the impact climate action is having on all nations. Negative effects of climate change are already being experienced globally. Carbon tax is a key pillar underpinning the climate action plan to halve emissions by 2030 and reach…

We all need affordable childcare. We all acknowledge the burden that high fees for early learning and childcare places on families. It is vital that providers, parents, staff and all other stakeholders work together to ensure that the welcome increased investment in the sector of €221 million does not fall at the first hurdle and that similar funding is also provided in 2023. We know there are legacy issues and that the Minister is working on them. He is as committed as I am to reducing the burden for parents who p…

I ask about the new mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, launched in June 2019. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has been doing much good work on this and launched the implementation plan last week. What is the status of the report of the specialist group on women’s mental health under the policy?

I thank the Minister. It is good to see action aimed at increasing mental health supports in response to the Covid-19 pandemic but we know issues were already present. According to the statistics, work-related stress, depression or anxiety account for 44% of work-related sickness and 54% of work days are lost because of it. The number of women who experience mental health difficulties in pregnancy and afterwards is one in five. It is, therefore, important to talk about women's mental health and prioritise action. A…

I thank the Minister. As a woman, I welcome the fact that the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health is a woman. That is very important. What is the status of the recruitment of psychology teams across the HSE? This is an issue that the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, have been working on and it comes across my desk regularly. Finally, what is the best avenue for applying for grants associated with the women's health fund announced in budget 2022? I have been contacted by numerou…

I, too, want to compliment the Irish people. They have shown so much generosity. I have received several phone calls about housing and people who are willing to take in families. Up to last night we have had 14,611 Ukrainians arrive in Ireland. In the last few days Carlow has had 49 arrive, including a baby and 21 families. I compliment the agencies such as the Carlow County Development Partnership, Annette Fox and her team, Brian O'Donovan in Carlow County Council and his team, and, of course, Olwyn and the team i…

All of us today have raised the issue of housing and the lack of supply. What is the update on the module building the Government is looking at? I heard the Taoiseach speak about HAP today. As the Taoiseach knows, if you qualify to go on the local authority housing list, you get HAP. I checked daft.ie in Carlow recently. Five properties are available. By the way, it is €1,200 to rent. The biggest issue is between rural towns and cities. There is a discretion in the local authorities and in Carlow and other rural to…

I, too, have concerns about the plans. I really welcome the work that is being done to welcome Ukrainian refugees but, like other Deputies, I have had several telephone calls from people who have houses available but need more communication and information on how to proceed. I contacted Carlow County Council, which told me it is setting up a forum and gave me a telephone number. I said that I have had loads of people contacting me and I need to know where to go for information. There is no branch of the Irish Red C…

I am substituting for Deputy Niamh Smyth. I would like to know the Department's plans to support increased domestic violence refuge provision and the progress in this regard. I am asking the Minister about Carlow, which he will know only too well.

I thank the Minister. I ask that he get a report for me on Carlow. I have been involved with various networks. A group of us, including all the relevant agencies, has been working together for the past few weeks, particularly since the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, announced Carlow was to have a women's refuge. We have a great network in Carlow but nobody has corresponded with it. Nobody has heard anything since the report was launched. Nobody knows anything. I sit on the group. We have a meeting next Tuesd…

Again, I thank the Minister for answering. The matter is important. I have met the Minister and the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, several times about a women's refuge for Carlow. Particularly in the nine counties that do not have a refuge, the urgency is recognised. Sadly, Covid created a crisis for something we knew was not working properly. In Carlow, we have a network set up. We have got all the various agencies together. When I raised this matter as a question on promised legislation, the Taoiseach requ…

I ask the Minister to provide an update on measures to make childcare more affordable and sustainable.

I thank the Minister. I hear regularly from constituents who raise issues around affordability and availability of childcare and it is an issue that is becoming more pressing now. When we welcome so many young children to Ireland from Ukraine, we also have to provide for them. It is very important that we address the affordability issue here. Many more childcare workers tell me of how they want to have an opportunity to stay working and to progress in the sector as valued employees. In Partnership for the Public Go…

I know that the Minister is fully committed, as is the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, who was spokesperson for children previously. It is important that parents understand how committed we and the Minister are and communication to all of the different agencies is key and of great importance here. No mother should ever have to come into any Senator or Deputy’s office and say that she might have to give up work because she cannot afford childcare. We have excellent workers within the childcare sector who are ver…