I reiterate that more than 90% of passport applications from Ireland and overseas are currently received through the passport online service. This is an increase from a figure of 47% in 2019. While the Department of Foreign Affairs has no current plans to enable passport applications to be checked at An Post locations, the passport service will continue to consider ways in which to enhance customer experience and reduce errors on applications.

I thank all the Deputies for raising this very difficult issue. I am very concerned to learn of the difficulties being experienced by Roadbridge Limited and the potential knock-on effects on its sub-suppliers and customers. I am answering on behalf of the Tánaiste who is the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I extend my sympathies to all employees and subcontractors who have been affected by this decision by the company to go into receivership. I know that this news will be very concerning for all the …

It is in the speaking note and in the supplementary note too. There was some confusion on that matter. The receiver clarified the issue with Roadbridge employees on 15 March that provided they do not resign from the current employment there is no statutory restriction on employees taking up additional employment during the 30-day consultation period in circumstances where they are not expected to attend the workplace. Those are the two caveats: if one is not expected to attend the workplace and also that one does n…

I recently met with the Huntington's group and I met with some of the consultants who provide care for them. The office of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, was also involved in the meeting. We are currently working with them and we are looking at the recommendations they have made.

I thank Deputy Mairéad Farrell for her question. This has been raised many times over the last few months. The Government is aware of the importance of people's oral health and the need for them to have access to a dentist in the area in which they live. I have an update. The Department of Health and the HSE officials met with representatives of the Irish Dental Association on 2 March, which was last week. At that meeting, the Department and the HSE proposed to increase fees across a number of items and proposed th…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue for discussion and, as he rightly said, I am taking this on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Rabbitte. The Deputy will be aware that throughout the pandemic, staff and resources associated with closed or curtailed services were redeployed, where possible, to support residential provision and to provide for targeted in-home, community and tele-online supports for service users and families based on prioritised needs. For those with…

Both the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and the HSE acknowledge the need for more services to provide much-needed respite to service users and their families. I take on board the points the Deputy has made. Parents are very concerned and this is very difficult for them after two very difficult years. I will certainly speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to see if it can be expedited in any way. While I acknowledge the immediate issue in CHO 6 is causing distress to those families affected, I reiter…

I thank Senator Conway for raising this issue as GP out-of-hour co-operatives are essential to the delivery of primary care health services. I thank the Senator for continuing to raise health issues in his own area in a constructive way. As he will be aware, GPs are required under the General Medical Services scheme to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. Most GPs meet this obligation through GP out-of-hours co-ope…

I agree with the Senator that a review is a good thing. The provision of out-of-hours GP services will be examined as part of a wider strategic review of general practice for which preparatory work has commenced this year. That is welcome. I note the Senator's point that there have been situations where cover has not always been available. The agreement provides an initial €2 million support fund for GPs in areas of urban deprivation and increases the existing support funding for rural GP practices. The improvement…

Dia is Muire daoibh go léir. Tá an-áthas orm a bheith anseo. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the measures the Department of Health is taking to ensure older people in Ireland benefit from advances in modifying therapies and research around brain health and dementia. I specifically welcome our visitors in the Gallery. They are currently taking part in an Erasmus project on dementia rights. We have representatives from Portugal, Spain, Greece and Turkey, in addition to St. Joseph's in Shankill, who a…

From the outset, I thank everybody for their words here today. I always love to come over to the Seanad. I always find the debate very constructive and learn a lot. Hearing Senators Mullen and Blaney and Senator Doherty, the Leader of the House, who were prepared to share their personal journey with regard to dementia, makes it very real. Every day in Ireland, 11 people are diagnosed with dementia. There are probably another 11 people who are not diagnosed in Ireland every day. When I started this journey with rega…

No.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Data Protection Act 2018 (Access Modification) (Health) Regulations 2022, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 2nd March, 2022.

I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) (No. 2) Order 2022, copies of which have been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 23rd February, 2022, be referred to the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in accordance with Standing Order 95(5), which, not later than 29th March, 2022, shall send a message to the Dáil in the manner prescribed in Standing…

I welcome the opportunity to speak in the House today as we mark International Women's Day. My immediate thoughts are with the women of Ukraine and the monumental challenges they are currently facing - the mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, wives, sisters-in-law and friends. Yesterday, I was very struck by a picture on the front of the Irish Independent of a mother and her four children. Out of context, it might appear like a normal picture of a mother taking her young children on a forest walk on a …

I thank the Deputies for tabling this motion. I welcome the opportunity to restate the Government's commitment to children with disabilities and their families. There are important challenges we must face if disability services in this country are to meet the hopes and expectations of those at the heart of the service and to enable them optimise their potential as they mature. It would be disingenuous to ignore the fact there have been difficulties in certain parts of the country in the implementation of the progre…

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue for discussion today. Given her absence on official duties, I will provide an update on the matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. The HSE has advised that due to public health advice issued at the onset of the Covid pandemic, an environmental risk assessment was carried out at Sruthán House to establish the suitability of the facility. That assessment established that the facility presented an unacceptably high level of risk for respite care…

I thank the Deputies for raising this very important issue today. On Deputy O'Rourke's comments, I will check out the situation with the suicide resource officer post vacancy since 2020, and I will revert back to the Deputy on that. I do not have any detail on that today. In relation to Meath mental health services, the HSE provides a wide range of services for adults, children and adolescents, and older people. These services are provided in various locations and settings and include community outpatient services …

In responding to the Senator, I wish to provide assurance on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities that the Government remains focused on providing the best services we can for children and adults with disabilities, including respite or residential care, therapeutic interventions, day services fit for the 21st century, and independent living supports. The priority is always to ensure the health and well-being of people with disabilities. The HSE has assured the Minister that the provi…

Not at all, I understand. I know exactly where the two Deputies are coming from. Sharing the Vision, our new mental health policy, is all about support in the community including day hospitals, peer support, crisis cafes, which all play a hugely important role to allow people with mental health issues to live at home. It was unfortunate, which is the only word I can use, that having been closed for so long due to Covid, when the service did reopen, a fire broke out in the adjoining area of the day hospital. This me…