I have received what Deputy Smith sent me relating to the forgotten families. I am engaging with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, to see if we can find a solution. I believe it is important for children who cannot attend school for health reasons to be provided for in some way, perhaps through an online access system or something like that. I did receive that and I am going to follow up on it with the Minister, Deputy Foley. A great deal has been put in place to help schools manage the pandemic, not only a…

I want to join the Ceann Comhairle in paying tribute to Brian and wishing him the very best in his retirement. It has been an unfortunate feature of the pandemic in recent months that we have been unable to experience the restaurant in the way we did before. He really did a great job and I hope he has a good retirement. Deputy Doherty raised the matter of ministerial questions. I am informed that the questions schedule was changed because the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has an EU meeting and there…

The question on the children's hospital can only be answered by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. Everyone will know that the project is delayed. There are many reasons it is delayed. One of these is the delay caused by Covid-19. Then there are all the issues around the claims and disputes with the contractor. The representatives of the board gave a good presentation the other day and were honest in their answers.

I am happy to answer the Deputy's question on documents. The only document I ever saw in relation to this matter was the memo that was presented to the Cabinet. There may well be plenty of other documents but the only one I ever saw was the one shared with the Cabinet, which was the memo to appoint Mr. Justice Woulfe to the Supreme Court. There is another vacancy and the Government will fill that in the normal way.

I am aware that there is a second vacancy but I cannot recall exactly when it arose.

It is a matter for the Government to fill that vacancy.

The decision to choose St. James's Hospital as the location for the national children’s hospital was made on foot of an expert committee recommendation in, I think, 2012 or 2013. That was before I was health Minister and long before Deputy Harris was health Minister. I was a member of the Government that made that decision so I have to accept responsibility for it, but anybody who looks back at the record of the time will know what my view on it was.

I do not think it is a question of the Minister intervening. He is the Minister for Health and he is actively involved in stewarding this project. The statutory authority falls to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board but that board is appointed by the Minister and he is actively involved in managing the project.

The use of revenge porn, sexual images or private images to get revenge on somebody is heinous and disgusting. I read about that. I was shocked that it happens and sad that people behave in such a way. I think it is wrong. I will check with the Minister for Justice about the legal issues around it. It may well be illegal already. If it is not, it would be appropriate for us to make it illegal. I will have to check with her as to what the current position is.

We want to find a pension solution for carers. Everyone in this House knows the value of the work carers do and we want to make sure they have a pension in their retirement. We appreciate there are many different types of carers: there are family carers, people who care for people who are not members of their family, carers who are in receipt of carer's allowance and carers who are not in receipt of carer's allowance. It is not an homogenous group by any means so there cannot be an homogenous solution. Some have a …

Tá an tuarascáil leis an Ard-Aighne agus leis An nGarda Síochána. We are keen to see this report published without delay. A lot of people are waiting on it. It was provided to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, some weeks ago but, before it can be published, he wants to make sure it is seen by the Attorney General and the Garda, so that nothing is done that could undermine future prosecutions, for example. I do not have a date. The legislation requires it be pub…

I know this is an important issue in Drogheda, Ireland's largest town, for those living there and its business community. The matter has been raised several times in the House, including by my colleague, Deputy O'Dowd. A decision on funding is yet to be made and is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in respect of the LIHAF and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State at the Department of Tran…

The winter flu vaccine programme has been a success and more people in Ireland will be vaccinated against the flu this year than ever before. However, notwithstanding the fact that we ordered more doses than in previous years, demand has exceeded supply and we must prioritise those who are most at risk. There are more doses available, but they have to be prioritised for obvious reasons. Unfortunately, we have not seen a great uptake in the flu vaccine for kids. This is disappointing. Only 20% or thereabouts of that…

I am very definitely the Tánaiste and am happy to confirm that for anyone who has not worked it out by now. The fee is approximately €100. It is paid to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI, and covers the board's administrative costs. There have been calls from some people to waive the fee. I agree that it would be a really nice gesture and a further sign of appreciation to nurses for the work they have done in recent months, but it could not just stop there. What about junior doctors who pay their fee…

I am not familiar with the details of the dispute, but I am sorry to hear that people, in particular individuals with disabilities, are being laid off, given the difficulty they often have in finding work. Although I am not familiar with the dispute's details, I would encourage Rehab Enterprises to engage with the union, which would be the right thing to do, and honour any collective agreement that has been made provided, of course, the company can afford to do so.

I might ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to give the Deputy a full reply. He will be able to give a better response than I can. Ensuring more housing is built that is suitable for older people is part of the Government's programme, in particular easily accessible housing that is near the centres of villages or towns, services, churches and shops, thus allowing older people to move to that accommodation and free up their current housing, which is often family housing that could more approp…

I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. I do not have an update at the moment, but I will ask the Minister for Health to provide one to the Deputies. I understand that there is an engagement involving the Irish Dental Association, the HSE and the Department of Health. I hope that the issue can be resolved.

I know there is a lot of pressure on school places in Bandon and the surrounding area. It is something that Senator Lombard has spoken to me about. I will have to ask the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, to give the Deputy an update. It is always the case that we can find a school place for all children. It is not always possible for them to be accommodated in the school of their first choice. I will ask for an update on that for the Deputy.

I do not know, but I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, to reply to that on my behalf.

I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this important matter. There are schemes in place to help private nursing homes deal with outbreaks where they occur. Sometimes that involves staff being provided by the HSE and at other times it involves increases in the funding they receive under the nursing home support scheme. There may well be cases where that is not adequate. Perhaps if the Deputy wants to give me some more details on that or take it up with the Minister for Health we will see if anything can be done.