I thank Deputy Quinlivan for the opportunity to discuss the challenges and the ongoing developments to support University Hospital Limerick and our health services across the mid- west region. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I acknowledge that there are significant challenges at the UHL site, which are having an impact on patients, staff and families in Limerick and the mid-west region. I also recognise the dedicated and hardworking staff at UHL and throughout …

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and the concerns raised by the UHL medical board. Like the Deputy, I am local TD in Limerick and I am fully aware of the concerns raised. The Government is fully committed to driving significant improvements to the health service at UHL and across the mid-west. As the Deputy stated, UHL is one of the busiest emergency departments in Ireland. Increasing levels of activity in 2026 have attendance up 11% in January to March compared to the same period in 2025. Despi…

I sincerely thank the Members of the House for their heartfelt contributions this evening and the specific points raised. Today, the House has reflected on the scoping exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. As we close, I want to bring us back to the heart of why this process matters. It is because it affects the lives of the people who have been so deeply shaped by the events and systems we are now examining. The survivors and victims who cam…

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. The Electoral Reform Act 2022 provided for significant changes to streamline and modernise the electoral registration process, including the introduction of continuous and online registration, as well as the use of PPSNs in the registration process, making it easier for people to check and update their information. In the intervening period, over 1 …

I thank Senator Gallagher for bringing this issue up for discussion, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. This is a very important issue and one on which we have made significant progress. I have set out the critical work done by local authorities in recent years, including on legacy data quality issues. I join Senator Gallagher in acknowledging and paying tribute to the work of local authority staff in this regard. As Senator Gallagher has done, I e…

I thank Deputy Gould for raising this important matter. Heather House Community Nursing Unit, CNU, provides important and valued services for the people of the northside of Cork city and surrounding areas. There is a typo in the reply. I understand the significant role the CNU plays in the community and the importance of the facility. Heather House Community Nursing Unit was opened in 2011, and a 60-bed extension was added in 2023. The CNU is currently registered with HIQA to accommodate a maximum of 60 residents i…

Community nursing units such as Heather House form an integral part of local communities and provide invaluable service to the people who live in those communities as they age. I have already outlined that there are currently 60 beds open in Heather House CNU. I will once again reiterate that the new 17-bed dementia unit is at the final stage of applying for registration with HIQA. The HSE advises that the final works agreed with HIQA are in progress and will be completed in the coming weeks. I have to work within …

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Government recognises the need for more GPs not only to meet current demand, but to meet the future needs of our growing and ageing population. A strong and sustainable general practice is essential to our health service. As Senator Boyhan has said, GPs are a vital component of our health system. They do great work. For that reason, the programme for Government…

I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the group from Piercestown National School. It is great to see so many young budding politicians seeing the Seanad in operation. I again thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important matter. As stated earlier, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Government acknowledges there are existing pressures in general practice. The recent ESRI report on GP capacity shows that our ageing and growing population, which Senator Boyhan …

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and providing me with the opportunity to clarify the role of my Department and the local authority sector in relation to flood response. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. My Department is mandated to undertake the lead government function for the co-ordination of a whole-of-government response to exceptionally severe weather events. The national directorate for fire and emerge…

I thank Senator Gallagher again for raising this important issue, which I have taken on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne. It is important to acknowledge the vitally important work undertaken by local authorities across the country during incidents of flooding and severe weather events more generally. Local authorities are the first responders. They receive the call when roads are flooded, trees are down, riverbanks have broken, and homes and critical infrastructure are at risk. Fire services, road and outdoor …

I welcome the guests to the Chamber. I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. The Minister recently announced a new towns and cities regeneration investment fund, which Senator Boyhan has alluded to. While replacing the URDF, existing funding for URDF projects already approved will be incorporated into it, with a focus on supporting policies such as town centre first and city task forces, as…

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important matter, which I am taking behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. It gives me the opportunity to reiterate the support my Department has been pleased to be able to provide for this critically important regeneration project for regeneration in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in general. In that respect, I will also inform Senator Boyhan that funding supports for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown also include €43.2 mi…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — while a large proportion of cancers are preventable, our growing and ageing population is a key driving factor behind the increase in cancers; — today, over 220,000 people in Ireland are living with or after cancer, a 50 per cent increase compared to a decade ago; — the National Cancer Registry predicts that 1 in 2 people will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime; — fortunately, survival rates for p…

I join with other colleagues across the House in acknowledging the great work of all healthcare workers, including medical, nursing and administrative staff and others throughout the health service. They do fantastic work. This year will mark the 13th anniversary of the launch of Ireland’s first national cancer strategy and is an opportune time to reflect on the progress made since 1996 and to look ahead to how we advance and build on what has been achieved. The Government recognises the objective of the Sinn Féin …

The Senator referred to 2007 onwards. Perhaps she could go through that again slowly.

I thank Senator Ryan for giving me the opportunity to update the House on the taking in charge of housing estates. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. It is important at the outset that I point out that under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Minister with responsibility for planning is precluded from exercising any power or control in regard to any particular case with which a planning authority or the board is or…

I thank the Senator again for raising this matter, which, as I said earlier, I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The decision to take any estate or estates in charge is ultimately one for the elected members of the local authority who, by way of a declaration made under the Roads Act, will make such a decision. In addition, financial decision-making and the accountability of local authorities is a matter for the elected members of a local authority who have direct respo…

I thank the Senator for raising this matter on carrying out a breeding cormorant survey of the Moy catchment in County Mayo, to inform an assessment of their impact on the reported decline of salmon in the river. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, is an executive agency of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which provides the legislative and policy framework for the conservation of nature…

I note Senator Duffy's point. I will make a couple of points. While the NPWS of the Department has a role in the protection and conservation of bird species, including the cormorant, policy related to the management of inland fisheries is the responsibility of Inland Fisheries Ireland. I have a note from the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment which reads: While salmon stocks have been in long decline both in Ireland and internationally, the technical expect group on salmon reports that the number of …