On three occasions in 2022, I raised the issue of the pain clinic at Sligo University Hospital, SUH, with the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health, when there were two service interruptions and, previously, when it was closed during the Covid period. Those issues were resolved and the service resumed. However, just over four weeks ago, I received information that there was to be a reduction in service at the pain clinic, with fewer consultants providing the service. I put down three questions to the Minister seekin…

People are not interested in hearing about Saolta University Health Care Group being in the process of recruiting consultants.

The Tánaiste said progress has been made in the provision of pain relief services. I agree there has been some progress but it is important to note that there has been a change in the international classification of chronic pain. In moving from the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases, ICD-10, to ICD-11, chronic pain is now recognised as a disease in its own right as distinct from a symptom of another disease. The response in Ireland has been to put in place a pilot programme. That is all …

I want to raise the provision of a domestic violence refuge in Sligo-Leitrim. I accept that, happily, nine new refuges are being developed and nine others redeveloped. One of those new refuges is planned for Sligo. Currently, there is no domestic violence refuge in Sligo, Leitrim or Roscommon. The nearest refuges are in Letterkenny, Castlebar, Athlone or Enniskillen. We are at the starting blocks and we are looking for a site. I ask that every effort will be made to progress the refuge in Sligo. There can be no del…

We must ensure that children and families experiencing domestic violence can access comprehensive domestic violence services.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Verona Murphy - To discuss the inclusion of rural interests in policy-making on conservation and game hunting. Deputy Michael Moynihan - To discuss the core funding requirements of the Crann Centre, Ballincollig, County Cork. Deputy Seán Crowe - To discuss the lack of a HSE dietician in the CHO 7 area. Deputy Brian Stanley - To discuss the low level of…

The Select Committee on Transport and Communications has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2024: Vote 29.

I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes: — that our pupil teacher ratio is 22.8 pupils per class size, whereas the European Union average is 20 pupils per class; — that there is chronic underfunding in Government expenditure per student in our primary schools, which is equivalent to 13 per cent per capita Gross Domestic Product, while the Organisation for economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average is 27 per cent per capita, leaving Ireland last out of 36 developed countries for spending on education, as per an O…

Do we have a copy of the Minister's speech?

The Minister told us she recognises the challenges facing schools in regard to funding. There is only one way to deal with that, which is to increase the levels of funding. Unless we say principals and teachers are making up the figures they presented to us - I do not believe they are - as I said, it is essential that a very significant increase in funding is delivered in the next budget. Having listened to the Minister's speech, I have to echo some of my colleagues' requests. Are we talking about the same educatio…

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I want to pay tribute to Tommie Gorman, a favourite son of Sligo who has left us way too soon. Tommie was a highly respected and trusted journalist for whom context, accuracy and outcomes mattered just as much as the story itself. We also saw Tommie as a real person. Many people felt they walked alongside him on his personal cancer journey and his recovery. For Tommie, of course, his own cancer experience became the catalyst for ensuring the most innovative and effective …

I welcome the motion by the Rural Independents because it seeks to address in a practical way some of the challenges faced by tourism and hospitality businesses across the country. I especially welcome the key proposal on reducing VAT rates for the sector to 9%. This is an immediate and practical step that can be taken that would lead to an immediate impact on the viability of so many businesses. We are accustomed to the Government and Government Ministers bemoaning what they cannot do. They often tell us that they…

Today we discuss if Ireland should opt into the EU migration pact. The pact itself contains extremely detailed requirements from all member states within its legislative proposals and it specifies how the entire system would operate across the EU. These are very detailed documents and yet we have not discussed in the detail necessary the requirements and obligations on Ireland if we opt in. Surely, before we opt into any or all of these regulations we should at the very least examine each legislative proposal in de…

I thank Sinn Féin for tabling this motion, which builds on many motions, including my own Private Members’ motion on the need to eliminate the means test for the carer’s allowance. This motion is timely because we are coming up to budget 2025. As I have often said, the means test is commonly known as the “mean test”. From speaking and listening to carers over the past 20 years and from reading all the reports from Family Carers Ireland and others, I can see why that is so. For a long time, Family Carers Ireland has…

I thank the Regional Group for bringing forward this motion on the nature restoration law because it gives us an opportunity to discuss and debate what might or might not be put onto the Statute Book. I say "might not be" because, of course, we are discussing an item of failed European legislation. As a law, it was controversial from day one, with no agreement at several EU committees, and that was absolutely unprecedented. Eventually, however, after a very rocky path in trilogues and in the Parliament, and followi…

That is not true.

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan voted against it.

Yesterday, Family Carers Ireland published its report, The State of Caring 2024. One of its asks was to abolish the means test for carers. I listened to the Taoiseach yesterday. He responded more than once to questions on this matter. He said that right now the Government is making changes to the income disregard for carers. That is right but, let us be clear, the outworking of last year's budget means that carers had to wait until 6 June 2024 to see an increase in the income disregard for carer's allowance. While …

I would like to ask the Minister for her perspective on that.

I am asking that the Taoiseach make every effort to ensure staff at the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities are awarded their pay claims as recommended by the Labour Court last January, where it was recommended that management in the national advocacy service would make a case to the Department for the funding required to provide their pay increases. However, five months later there is no progress and staff have no option but to strike because there has been no increase in staff salaries and cost…