Addressing the home support waiting list is a priority for me in 2026 and the HSE National Service Plan 2026 includes, for the first time, an explicit target to reduce waiting times. As part of this, I have secured funding for an additional 257 directly employed staff in 2026, with the highest allocation of 56.5 healthcare assistants, HCAs, and three managers going to the west and north-west region. I can assure the Deputy that there is no pause or restrictions on recruiting healthcare assistants in Donegal, and in…

I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn. I assure him that there is an intensive recruitment campaign for healthcare assistants for Donegal. As I said, 39 additional healthcare support assistants have been hired since September to the Donegal services for home support. Furthermore, 43 candidates have been offered roles and are currently progressing through pre-employment checks. Seventeen of those are cleared to commence, and a further 26 candidates are currently in pre-employment clearance. A recent recruitment drive by the …

In my role as Minister of State for older people, particularly dealing with home support services, I want to bring down the waiting lists. I want the HSE to actively recruit staff. I have met with the HSE about that on a number of occasions. For the first time, in the national service delivery plan for the HSE we are looking specifically to reduce waiting lists. As it stands, 39 additional healthcare assistants have been recruited by the HSE since September for Donegal. There are 43 candidates who have been offered…

The 2025 programme for Government includes a commitment to explore the creation of a national centre of excellence for traditional skills. In furtherance of this commitment the Heritage Council established a task force on traditional skills. The task force met five times during the course of 2025 and is due to meet again later this month. The task force has to date commissioned three pieces of work, including an audit of available traditional skills courses and an assessment of the current and future demands for tr…

I thank Deputy Callaghan. It is a programme for Government commitment, which is as strong a commitment as we can get, to explore the creation of a national centre of excellence for traditional skills. A task force has been established and it has commissioned work. There will be a report from the Heritage Council to the Government in respect of the work of the task force later this year. By way of interest, one of the items of work the task force completed was a survey of skills by RED C. It indicated very strong pu…

With regard to the ongoing work of the task force, I mentioned the RED C survey on public attitudes to traditional skills. There was also an audit of traditional skills courses on the island in 2025. More particularly, there is an economic assessment of the demand for traditional skills, which goes back to the point Deputy Callaghan made. The report on the public attitude to the provision of courses is complete and the demand survey is in its final stages. That very much feeds into this. I have no doubt that, like …

I thank Deputy Gould for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority, and the increase in homelessness figures is a concern for the Government. Budget 2026 allocated €513 million in current funding to ensure that individuals and families experiencing homelessness are provided with emergency accommodation and other supports. The key object…

I again thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. I reiterate that resources and funding are not an obstacle to the urgent efforts required. More than €563 million has been allocated to homeless services in 2021. On the specific point raised in respect of the Leap card, the Government's new housing plan includes a strong focus on measures around homelessness and a key measure in the plan is a child and fa…

I appreciate the opportunity to address the House on this important matter. Addressing homelessness is a top priority for the Government. We remain committed to working with all key stakeholders to reduce and prevent homelessness across Ireland, including homelessness among our more vulnerable people, including our older people, disabled people and Travellers. Our new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, is an integrated housing and homelessness plan in which the Government recognises that homeless…

I think there is an understanding I am taking the Topical Issue matter in the name of Deputy Willie Aird. It was No. 3 but is now No. 1.

I thank Deputy Aird for raising this very important matter. On Wednesday, 4 February 2026, following an application by HIQA under section 59 of the Health Act 2007, an order was made by Portlaoise District Court cancelling the registration of Droimnín nursing home. The HSE was directed to step in and take over operational control of the centre, acting as the provider of last resort. The focus at this time is to ensure the safety, care and welfare of the residents living in the nursing home while longer-term arrange…

Once again, I thank Deputy Aird for raising this important matter of Droimnín nursing home in Stradbally. As I said earlier, all options are being explored by the HSE. Specifically, in terms of St. Vincent's in Mountmellick, I know the Deputy has a keen interest in that community nursing home run by the HSE. I would like to give him clarity on a couple of points. First, the church will continue to be accessed by residents and staff, as required, and the day care will remain operational in its current location. The …

I welcome the opportunity to engage with colleagues on the important matter of expanding access to general practice care. I wish to thank the Social Democrats for raising this issue, and Deputy Rice for leading on the motion. I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who is travelling to the EPSCO meetings today. The Government will not be opposing the motion. We are all aware of how central general practice is to the provision of healthcare in Ire…

No.

No.

I thank Senator Lynch for raising this important issue. It is a key priority for the Government to increase access to services that help older people to remain independent and live in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. Alongside home support, meals on wheels and similar services, day centres are an essential support for older people, particularly in rural communities. They provide invaluable assistance, minor treatments, advice and social interaction for older people who may, for…

I again thank Senator Lynch for raising this issue. The Government’s objective to support older people to live well with dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Providing the supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels, including dementia-specific supports, is a key factor in supporting people to age well in their own homes. Day centres like this proposal for Macroom are a crucial part of social provision in our communities. They are an invaluable resource to hel…

I thank Members for their patience; there was a vote in the Dáil just now. I thank Senator Keogan for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for foreign affairs and for Defence, Deputy McEntee. At the January Foreign Affairs Council, EU ministers discussed the current situation in Iran, particularly the EU’s response to Iran’s brutally violent repression of protesters. The Council agreed unanimously to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. This dec…

Again, I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Helen McEntee. Ireland supported the decision to designate Iran's IRGC as a terrorist organisation in response to its role in the violent attacks on street protestors. The final enactment of this designation should be completed in only a few weeks. Implementation of this measure will be done in the same way as existing sanctions. Many members of the IRGC are already subject to these …

I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton. It gives the Department of Education and Youth the opportunity to discuss St. Mary’s Boys' National School, Lucan. I can see the Deputy has a deep personal interest, apart from being a TD for the area. I will give him the answer I have been provided with. If there are particular matters he wishes me to take back, I will deal with those on the c…