I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. There is nobody in this Chamber who has not been contacted in our constituency offices on this issue. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. The Minister is acutely aware that access to dental services for medical card holders under the DTSS has become an ever-increasing problem during the pandemic. The problem is that a significant number of dentists who were contracted by the HSE to treat medical card patients hav…

I thank Senator Currie for giving me the opportunity to update the House on this important matter. I acknowledge the enormous contribution made by psychologists in the healthcare system during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic and before that as well. In February 2019, the HSE community operations unit convened a project team chaired by Dr. Cathal Morgan to consider the preparation of a workforce plan for psychological services in the HSE, including an examination of the current framework for training …

Regrettably, this problem has become particularly acute during the past two years when the concentration of effort, both in the Department and the HSE, has been on the pandemic. That is not to say that officials have not been engaging with the dental profession. There has been engagement between HSE officials and the dental community throughout the pandemic on infection control measures and guidelines for safe dental practice, with a view to ensuring that a safe, satisfactory service could be continued for medical …

I have met representatives of the Psychological Society of Ireland. Sláintecare reform supports the implementation of Sharing the Vision 2020-2030 under the enhancing community care workstream. The need to build a more accountable and transparent health service is a focus of Sláintecare. It is also a key objective of the new Sharing the Vision policy in the context of mental health service delivery. There has been an unprecedented investment in recruitment across the health service, including for health and social …

I thank the Deputy for raising this topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ryan. From the outset, I would like to note that the Department of Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, it is not involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. It is the NTA, as the Deputy knows, that has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the allocation of associ…

I thank the Deputy and advise him further that the review of the Sligo town bus service is not looking at specific routes in isolation. Rather, the NTA is working to develop a bus network in Sligo town which can better serve the multiple needs of people who wish to use public transport there. For example, the NTA is examining the potential of a corridor in which the existing S1 and S2 routes and the propose new S3 route might integrate to offer people a higher frequency of service where demand merits it. I wish to …

I thank Deputy Guirke for raising this issue, which I am addressing on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney. Ireland's relationship with the United States of America has been of critical importance for successive Governments and continues to be a major priority for the current Government as set out in our programme for Government. The key priorities and objectives for this unique relationship are set out in the Government's United States and Canada Strategy 2019-2025. The actions are categoris…

I thank the Deputy. I doubt it will be me going with the bowl of shamrock. The Department of Foreign Affairs has established Ireland houses in New York, Austin and San Francisco to allow for an impressive Team Ireland footprint. Several Irish State agencies, together with a consulate, can work together to maximise impact in a particular location. Plans are under way to open more Ireland houses in other US locations. The Deputy referred to the former Deputy, John Deasy, a colleague of mine from Waterford. I did not …

I know.

I thank the Deputy for his question. Yesterday, I announced that of the €10 million that was made available to mental health on budget day, €1 million of it will be allocated to community and voluntary organisations throughout the country. It will be administered through Mental Health Ireland. The portal will go live next Monday, 29 January 2022. The amount that will be allocated is between €5,000 and €30,000, depending on the various organisations. There are obviously criteria that organisations will have to adher…

I thank Deputies for the opportunity to speak to the House about the important topic of youth mental health. It is particularly timely and pertinent given the publication today of the independent report on the review of care provided in the child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, in south Kerry. The report sets out a catalogue of failures across multiple levels of the system in the care provided to young people accessing CAMHS in Kerry. I am sure Members of the House will be with me when I say my thought…

I am calling for it and would welcome any support.

I thank Deputies for their constructive contributions, of which there were 51. It has been an excellent debate from that point of view. Fifty-one Deputies, which is a lot, came to speak about the important issue of youth mental health. I have listened closely to what has been said and taken copious notes. I will continue to work closely with all sides of the House to ensure developments and improvements in the delivery of our child and youth mental health services. As I have indicated many times since becoming Mini…

Yes.

I did meet them.

I join Members once again in reading into the record of the House my deepest condolences to Ashling Murphy's family; her boyfriend, Ryan; her friends; her work colleagues; her pupils; and members of her local and wider community in County Offaly. Although nearly two weeks have passed since this tragic occurrence, there remains a palpable sense of shock in every community throughout the country. The outpouring of grief, support and demonstration is a very clear indication to us that the issue of violence against wom…

I join Members of the House in expressing my deepest condolences to Ashling Murphy's family, her boyfriend Ryan, her friends, her work colleagues, her pupils and the members of her local and wider community in County Offaly. The entire country is behind the Murphy family as they face this unimaginable grief. I attended very poignant candle-lit vigils in Dungarvan and Portlaw last week. We, like many others around the country, stood in silence but our silence was deafening amid a collective understanding that this t…

I thank the Deputy for her question. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I wish everybody a happy, peaceful and restful Christmas and thank everyone in the House for the work they do. The Deputy's question has been raised many times in the House. It is important to record that this year we have already delivered 2.5 million more home care hours than last year. A total of 55,000 people received home care every day in this country. I thank the Government for increasing the budget to €666 million. Funding is not the i…

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. We come across issues all the time when somebody ages out at 18 and transfers from child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, to general adult mental health supports. We know the services for eating disorders are not as robust for adults as they are for under-18s. We have seen a spike in eating disorders in the past two years, especially for young girls aged 13 to 15. The national implementation and monitoring committee is the oversight body for Sharing the Vision.…

I am pleased to speak again on this fundamental issue of the Government's response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This is especially timely given the risks and challenges associated with the new Omicron variant. The current level of Covid-19, both nationally and internationally, is of concern and yet again is placing a huge strain on public services, not least the health system. I again acknowledge the enormous contributions made by all healthcare staff in the continued operation of vital services throughout the…