I thank the Deputy for his considered response. It is a matter he has raised and is committed to. The measure is in the programme for Government. It is a specific action under delivering housing for older people. I committed to doing work on that even prior to the action plan being finalised. A review is currently under way by the Housing Agency on behalf of the Department of the financial contribution schemes operated by local authorities. It will interact with local authorities and, once the review has been compl…

Once again, I thank the Deputy for his contribution. A body of work is under way, as I stated, following on from defined actions under housing for older people section of Delivering Homes, Building Communities. We have committed to a review of the operation of the existing local authority financial contribution schemes and to have it as a real, evidence-based, substantive body of work. We commissioned the Housing Agency to look at it in great depth. As the Deputy said, some local authorities have been operating suc…

I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy James Lawless. I welcome the opportunity to update colleagues on how the arts, humanities, and social sciences will be supported through the Research Ireland strategy and the progress on implementation to date. Research Ireland was established as the national research and innovation funding agency to promote and continue developing excellence in resear…

I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Lawless. He will ensure her contribution will form part of the ongoing consultation. New opportunities are being created for AHSS through the Research Ireland strategy, supported by additional Government investment to deliver the strategy, including the development of the development of larger-scale initiatives. New opportunities have arisen for researchers through the newly established Global Talent Irelan…

I take this opportunity to thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this important matter and providing me with an opportunity to update the House. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of Deputy James Browne, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Under the Planning and Development Act 2024 local authorities are obliged to prepare and adopt development plans that may make provision for the delivery of recreational facilities and amenities. While the making of a development plan is a reserved function…

I thank Deputy O'Rourke again for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. In addition to the need to make provision for recreational facilities within statutory development plans, such facilities may also be funded by development contribution schemes, determined by elected members of each planning authority under section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Conditions attached to permissions requiring contrib…

I thank Deputies Crowe, Lahart and Ahern for raising this important matter on behalf of their constituents. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, to outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to the school project for Sancta Maria College, Ballyroan, Rathfarnham, County Dublin. The completion project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at stage 2b, architectural planning-detailed design. The brief is for a completion contract for re…

Once again, the completion of the building project for Sancta Maria College in Ballyroan is a very important matter. It is currently at stage 2B, architectural planning and detailed design. The brief is a completion contract for refurbishment works and a sports hall, following termination of the original contract. The design team completed a stage 2B submission, which is currently with the Department for review. As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, a Department-led prior…

If it is in order, can I say a few words at the start?

I thank the Acting Chair and the House for their time today to discuss this Bill. We had a constructive discussion in the Seanad on Second Stage. This Bill is an amendment to the Health Act 2007. As I said previously, for the first time, the Bill will introduce regulation of home support providers, who will be regulated by HIQA and the chief inspector. The Bill will give the chief inspector a range of powers and will make it an offence to provide a home support service without being registered. The chief inspector …

I thank the Acting Chair very much. I thank Senator Boyhan for a very comprehensive overview of safeguarding. I would like to address this matter in the context of the points the Senator raised. There were a number of things. I have a briefing note, which I will go through, but I will give some structure in terms of an outline. Within the Bill itself, section 21 amends section 101 of the principal Act. I am referring specifically to the insertion of a new section 101(4)(f): the policies to be maintained by a regist…

The Senator is correct that we are hoping a general scheme for adult safeguarding legislation for the health and social care sector will go to Cabinet before the end of the year. We are working intensively on that. We will seek the Seanad's assistance, and the legislation will be enacted once the President has signed it. There will then be a lead-in period. There will be a year for HIQA to get ready for the legislation. Within a two-year period thereafter, HIQA will have a full register of home support providers up…

I thank the Senator for his contribution and collaborative approach. Home support hours are a key priority for me and the Government. I want to bring the numbers down. They are coming down, but not at the rate I would like. The key element here is that we need to recruit more staff within the HSE. As I said, another 257 are funded and that work is under way. I have regular meetings with the HSE, along with my officials, specifically around delivering home support. Some areas of the country are different from others…

I acknowledge the issue that Senator Tully, on behalf of Sinn Féin, has raised in the context of the amendment. This is an important issue that the Government is actively addressing. The delivery of high-quality home support is dependent on the efforts of people who work in the sector. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the great work that has been done by home care workers who provide support and assistance to people of every age who have a wide range of medical, conditions, abilities and needs and who are liv…

The Senator’s amendment has been ruled out of order but I will speak to the section and the particular points he raised. I looked at this in great depth because I wanted to cover everything. I will read out the note and then I will cover a number of points thereafter. I thank Senator Clonan for raising this matter. All exemptions included in the Bill have been carefully considered to ensure that there is no adverse impact on services that are not intended to be captured under the current regulatory framework. In re…

I thank everyone for their contributions. This is significant legislation. It is a landmark Bill in that for the first time ever we will be regulating home care providers. That will give added confidence to the people who use the service, who are the most important people of all, about the high quality of the service. I acknowledge all the work done by home support workers and providers and by the people who are doing it for family without being paid. They do phenomenal work. This legislation has now gone through b…

I thank Senator Boyhan. It goes without saying I acknowledge the officials in the Department.

A lot of it goes unseen. They are a huge part of any work done by Government. I wanted to put that on record.

I thank the Members for their genuine and thoughtful contributions. I join with the Senators and welcome the advocacy groups in the Public Gallery, including HIV Ireland, Outreach and LGBT campaigners. There are probably many others so forgive me if I do not namecheck everyone, but I acknowledge the work they do. I welcome them to Leinster House and to the Seanad. Today the House had an opportunity to reflect on HIV and AIDS in Ireland. I thank everyone who has participated in this discussion. The Minister, Deputy …

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I thank the esteemed Senator for raising this matter. The long-term illness scheme was established under section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970, as amended. Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 prescribing 16 conditions covered by the scheme. There have been no changes to the list of 16 conditions since that time. Under the LTI scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related t…