I thank Deputies Cairns and Christopher O'Sullivan, who are both more aware than I am that Bantry experienced significant flooding at around 6 a.m. yesterday. It appears that the source of the flood water was a mixture of tidal effluvium and pluvium as the main culvert through the town was also running full at the time of flooding. As the Deputies said, the fire brigade was on site and pumped water over the quay wall. It is estimated that 23 properties flooded on the south side of the square and New Street. It is d…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I hope Enniscorthy did not flood in the last day or two during Storm Barra. We have experienced flooding far too often, especially due to the various climate challenges we face. I thank the Deputy for her question in regard to the much-needed Enniscorthy flood relief scheme. The Enniscorthy, River Slaney, flood defence scheme is being proposed by Wexford County Council, on behalf of the Office of Public Works, as a scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and…

I understand the importance of this project. Enniscorthy has a long history of flooding. Following the extreme flood event that occurred in 2000, the Office of Public Works, in conjunction with Wexford County Council, undertook a study of the flooding problems in the town so it is not that it is a unique situation. I come from Waterford and the Deputy is well familiar with the glass wall defences on the city quay. The difference that they have made is unbelievable. I can remember the quay flooding and sandbags stac…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The continued enhancement and improvement of our mental health and suicide prevention services remains a priority for me. I was pleased, therefore, to secure unprecedented funding of €1.149 billion for HSE mental health next year. This is an increase of €47 million over 2021. Next year's new development funding will provide for the recruitment of 350 new staff across mental health and will allow for new initiatives in community mental health teams, including the…

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I met representatives of CARMHA previously in Tipperary when I met many organisations. Addiction is a responsibility of the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. With respect to available funding for organisations that provide support to those with mental health difficulties, every organisation that wishes to apply for ongoing funding must make a business case to its local HSE CHO office. In the Deputy's case, the relevant CHO is CHO 3. As I said, there is a process in place a…

I thank the Deputies who indicated their support for the Bill. I also thank the Deputies who spoke in the debate today and yesterday for their contributions. I will only speak and comment on issues related to the Bill. As was discussed in yesterday's debate, a large number of people hold health insurance. For some, this is a choice while others, unfortunately, may view it as a necessity. The Government is committed to improving public health services under the Sláintecare programme. As access to these services impr…

I thank the Deputy for his contribution to yesterday's debate which highlighted the role model 2 hospitals can play in providing care to the community. However, I must reject the amendment and will outline the reasons for the rejection. The provisions being introduced in this Bill on high-cost claims are the result of significant work carried out by the Health Insurance Authority in the past few years. The authority provided its recommendations to the Minister for Health in June of this year and as a result, we hav…

Forcing cover for all model 2 hospitals would have unintended consequences. It would drive up the price of entry-level plans. A high-cost claim under this Bill will arise when a customer's health insurance claim or claims exceeds €50,000 in a 12-month period. The fund will then pay 40% of the portion of the claim that exceeds that amount. So, for a claim of €60,000, the fund would pay out €4,000. The types of activities conducted in model 2 hospitals are less likely to result in these high-cost claims as, typically…

I will repeat what I have said already. First, to include the Deputy's amendment would introduce additional requirements for high-cost claims credits which have not been planned, a matter I have just addressed. Second, forcing cover for all model 2 hospitals would have the unintended impact of driving up the price of entry level plans. The Deputy has not addressed that. It would force up the price of entry level plans. Third, amending the legislation to include cover for all model 2 hospitals would introduce a part…

I will respond first to Deputy Denis Naughten. The Department of Health officials have surveyed the insurers and confirmed that the majority of plans across all insurers provide cover for model 2 hospitals. The plans that do not are entry level plans, which still provide cover for some model 2 hospitals. The entry level plans are intended for first-time entrants into the market and are offered at an affordable rate. In response to Deputy McDonald, as already stated, including the amendment would introduce additiona…

Hear, hear.

We need our beds.

Follow that.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have this opportunity to address the House on Second Stage of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021. This is an annual technical Bill comprising nine sections, all focused on the issue of health insurance. This legislation is needed in order to revise the parameters of the risk equalisation scheme, which is a financial mechanism that supports our community-rated health insurance market. The amendments outlined in the Bill will ensure the ongoin…

That would not happen.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I notice Deputy Joan Collins is also here and listening; we had a discussion earlier in the back corridor, and many other Deputies have raised the situation with me. The issue is not funding. If the issue was funding, I would be able to go and look for more funding and I feel I would secure it. My budget for home care for this year is €666 million, it increased by €150 million this year and I have secured the same increase for next year, which is to deliver 24 million hours…

I will go back to the cross-departmental strategic workforce advisory group. I announced a call for submissions last Friday to further identify key issues in recruitment and retention and to inform the establishment of the group in early 2022, which is January as far as I am concerned as it needs to be done as soon as possible. We are all aware that terms and conditions vary from the private sector to the HSE. The HSE pays approximately €16 per hour plus travel. Some of the private operators pay the minimum wage an…

I thank the Deputy for his question and for the constructive way he has phrased it. As he and I are aware, there are 19 residents living in the Owenacurra Centre and it is their home. I will not go over the history of it but in June 2021, the HSE notified the Department of its decision to close the Owenacurra Centre. The current building is not fit for purpose and cannot be brought to the standard required. The works being undertaken in the facility currently are to ensure that it is safe for the residents who live…

Improving all aspects of mental health service delivery is a priority for me and that is what I try to do when I secure as much funding as possible, particularly for the recruitment and retention of staff. As we all know, the delivery of mental health services depends on the staff we have. Deputy Stanton referred to the fact that east Cork will be left without a facility like Owenacurra. The national implementation and monitoring committee is currently undertaking a bed capacity review for mental health beds across…

My colleague and fellow Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, sends her apologies as she is currently in the Seanad and was not in a position to take this question. The implementation of Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People, PDS, programme is an agreed Government and HSE policy. This policy supports the reconfiguration of children's disability services to provide equitable child and family-centred services based on need rather than diagnosis. The PDS programme will ensure that services are pr…