I will send a note to the Minister.

I thank the Senators for their contributions, and particularly the Fine Gael Senators for tabling the motion and providing us the opportunity to discuss dental services and outline the Government’s priority to fundamentally reform these services over the coming years. I am taking this debate on behalf of Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. She is not opposing the motion. Before I begin with my formal speech, many of the issues Senators have raised have a common theme. Many are identified in the new progra…

I welcome that.

The Deputy should write to me about that.

I thank all the Members. Some 40 Members spoke in this debate. People were very constructive. Like everyone else, I was shocked by the programme. It was wanton neglect and abuse. I thank the Members for their very constructive engagement. I will attempt to cover the areas that people brought up. What we saw happening on the programme was pure wanton neglect and abuse of older people. It is as simple as that. We have to make the system better and more robust. How do we go about doing that? As HIQA itself has acknowl…

I have been listening to the debate. If my record is correct, 11 Senators contributed. I want to acknowledge their contributions. What I heard is that Senators agree that it is important that all tenancies across the country be protected as soon as possible under the current rent increase limits that apply to rent pressure zones. This Bill provides the necessary protections for all tenants from the day after the passing this Bill until 28 February 2026. In line with the commitment in Housing for All, a review of th…

I thank Senators McCormack and Fitzpatrick. I cannot accept amendment No. 1 tabled by Sinn Féin, which appears to have the aim of introducing a ban on rent increases. The Government's firm view is that the imposition of a ban on rent increases is highly likely to be the subject of a legal challenge, would almost certainly deter continued investment in the rental accommodation market and would cause greater recourse to the State for social housing supports. The current rent pressure zone arrangements, under which re…

Which section are we on?

I thank the Senator. The amendment he put forward has been ruled out of order. To give context, the omission of such exemptions from rent increases would be very difficult for landlords and for enforcement by the Residential Tenancies Board. The proposed amendment also provides for regulation-making power for the Minister to provide a compensation scheme for landlords who suffer loss as a consequence of the exemptions from rent increases for the cohort in question. This amendment would give rise to a significant co…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann resolves that the Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022 be deemed to be read a second time this day twelve months, to allow the Joint Committee on Health and the Department of Health to consider matters further.". I acknowledge the intention behind this Bill and thank the Deputies for raising such an important matter. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeil…

I welcome the opportunity to discuss nursing homes and the care of older people. To begin, I want to acknowledge the "RTÉ Investigates" programme that was broadcast on 4 June. This was a very hard-hitting and harrowing programme which highlighted a litany of poor care standards in two nursing homes, showing clear neglect and abuse of older people, namely, the Residence, Portlaoise, and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin. The welfare of the residents and their families was obviously at the forefront of my concerns followin…

I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. At the outset, I should advise that the Water Services Act 2017 sets out the arrangements in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Uisce Éireann. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects are a matter for Uisce Éireann and approved through its own board and internal governance structure. The Minister has no role…

I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil very much. I accept the points he makes and how genuine he is in raising them and outlining the impact. The Minister, Deputy Browne, has made inquiries and was informed that there are operational challenges in the wastewater network in Celbridge, including Hazelhatch. However, under the national leakage reduction programme, Uisce Éireann is progressing with the replacement of 5.2 km of old water mains between Newcastle, County Dublin, and Celbridge, County Kildare. The main contractor is mo…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dail Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Government aims to minimise the level of vacancy in every local authority area, and this is reflected in a decade of Exchequer investment in addressing long term vacancy, while acknowledging that there will always be a level of vacancy in the system, as tenancies end for various reasons and homes are prepared for reletting; — significant progress has been made over the past 10 years to address long term…

The message must go out loud and clear to local authorities that they should come forward with those additional voids and the Department will look at providing funding. I thank all Deputies who contributed thus far to the debate on this motion. I commend the amendment to the House.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I will provide some background and then address the Deputy's question. Fezolinetant, marketed under the trade name Veoza by Astellas Pharma is a medicine used to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats associated with menopause. The European Medicines Agency granted marketing authorisation for this product in December 2023. The company marketing this me…

I once again thank the Deputy for his interest in this important area. I will bring his comments to the attention of the Minister for Health and the officials in the Department. As the initial reply stated, the next step in the agreed process is for the applicant company to submit a full HTA dossier to the NCPE. To date, a full HTA dossier has not been received by the NCPE, which awaits that submission from the applicant company. As stated, I will bring the points the Deputy raised to the attention of the Minister …

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. We were all shocked and appalled by what we saw on the "RTÉ Investigates" programme last week. I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the matter. I especially recognise how incredibly difficult it has been for the residents of the Residence in Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor and their families. We heard that first hand from the family of Audeon Guy this evening on "Prime Time". I want to make it clear that poor care, neglect and any form of abuse of indivi…

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to bring forward an adult safeguarding policy for the health and social care sector. I expect the issue will be brought to the Cabinet before the summer recess. Following that, we will be looking for approval to progress a health and adult safeguarding Bill, which is in the current legislative programme. It is a matter of absolute priority. I am on record as saying that I would like to see inspections taking place more quickly and timeframes for protected disclo…

I thank Senator Kennelly for the opportunity to update him on the school transport service in these areas. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth with responsibility for special education and inclusion, Deputy Michael Moynihan. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. As Senator Kennelly may be aware that, under the terms of the school transport scheme, c…